Magnetoelectric Vertically Aligned Nanocomposite of YFeO3 and CoFe2O4

Abstract Self‐assembled two‐phase vertically aligned nanocomposites consisting of ferromagnetic pillars embedded in a ferroelectric matrix provide an attractive geometry for observing magnetoelectric coupling based on the strain‐coupled magnetostrictive and piezoelectric effects at the interfaces. In perovskite‐spinel nanocomposites the ferroelectric phase typically consists of BiFeO 3 , BaTiO 3 or Pb(Zr,Ti)O 3 . Here, the ferroelectric phase is Y‐rich YFeO 3 which exhibits ferroelectricity originating from the local inversion symmetry breaking caused by Y Fe antisite defects. Coherent interfaces observed between Y‐rich YFeO 3 and a magnetic spinel CoFe 2 O 4 in a vertically aligned nanocomposite enable strain‐mediated magnetoelectric coupling at room temperature, confirming the ferroelectricity and piezoelectricity in Y‐rich YFeO 3 and extending the range of magnetoelectric nanocomposite compositions.