Multiferroic magnetoelectric composite systems such as ferromagnetic-ferroelectric heterostructures have recently attracted an ever-increasing interest and provoked a great number of research activities, driven by profound physics from coupling between ferroelectric and magnetic orders, as well as potential applications in novel multifunctional devices, such as sensors, transducers, memories, and spintronics. In this Review, we try to summarize what remarkable progress in multiferroic magnetoelectric composite systems has been achieved in most recent few years, with emphasis on thin films; and to describe unsolved issues and new device applications which can be controlled both electrically and magnetically.

Recent Progress in Multiferroic Magnetoelectric Composites: from Bulk to Thin Films

An insight into the analogies, state-of-the-art technologies, concepts, and prospects under the umbrella of perovskite materials (both inorganic-organic hybrid halide perovskites and ferroelectric perovskites) for future multifunctional energy conversion and storage devices is provided. Often, these are considered entirely different branches of research; however, considering them simultaneously and holistically can provide several new opportunities. Recent advancements have highlighted the potential of hybrid perovskites for high-efficiency solar cells. The intrinsic polar properties of these materials, including the potential for ferroelectricity, provide additional possibilities for simultaneously exploiting several energy conversion mechanisms such as the piezoelectric, pyroelectric, and thermoelectric effect and electrical energy storage. The presence of these phenomena can support the performance of perovskite solar cells. The energy conversion using these effects (piezo-, pyro-, and thermoelectric effect) can also be enhanced by a change in the light intensity. Thus, there lies a range of possibilities for tuning the structural, electronic, optical, and magnetic properties of perovskites to simultaneously harvest energy using more than one mechanism to realize an improved efficiency. This requires a basic understanding of concepts, mechanisms, corresponding material properties, and the underlying physics involved with these effects.

Mutual Insight on Ferroelectrics and Hybrid Halide Perovskites: A Platform for Future Multifunctional Energy Conversion.

Magnetocaloric effect: From materials research to refrigeration devices

A2B′B″O6 perovskites: A review

Electrocaloric materials for future solid-state refrigeration technologies

Lanthanum-modified lead zirconate titanate Pb0.97La0.03(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O3 doped with xat.% WO3 (x=0, 0.2, 0.5, 1, and 2) (PLWZT) ferroelectric thin films have been deposited on Pt∕Ti∕SiO2∕Si substrates using a sol-gel spin-coating process. We have demonstrated that WO3 dopant plays a significant role on the structure and electrical properties of the PLWZT films. The x-ray-diffraction analysis shows that the PLWZT films undergo a dramatic tetragonal-to-cubic crystalline phase transformation with small amount of WO3 additives. Surface morphology (atomic force microscopy) analysis shows that the average grain size decreases with the increase of WO3 doping amount in the PLWZT films. The highest average grain size of 91nm has been observed for PLWZT (WO3:0.2at.%). It is also observed from x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy study that W varies its chemical state with the varying concentration of WO3 in the films. Moreover, the polycrystalline PLWZT thin films with a small amount of WO3 doping (0.2at.%) show a reduc...

Structure and properties of WO3-doped Pb0.97La0.03(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O3 ferroelectric thin films prepared by a sol-gel process

An electromechanical device includes a support structure formed by attaching inner surfaces of second and third substrates to a first substrate. The support structure includes at least one cavity between the second and third layers. An electromechanical active element is provided on an outer surface of at least one of the second or third layers.

Micro-electromechanical devices and methods of fabricating thereof

The present invention provides a product and manufacturing method for electro-optic ceramic material having the composition (A'(1-y)A"y)1-XLnxM(1-2X/5)O3 wherein 0 < x < 0.1; 0 < y < 1; A' and A" are independently, alkali metals; Ln is a lanthanide metal; and M is a transition metal. The present invention provides a product and manufacturing method for an electro-optic device that is operable at room temperature and the properties of which are tunable by an applied external electric field.

Electro-optic ceramic materials

Electronic structure, magnetic and electrical properties of multiferroic PbFe1/2Ta1/2O3

The multiferroic properties of (1−x)BiFeO3-xBaMnO3 (BBFMO; x = 0.00, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15) solid solutions, prepared by a mechanosynthesis technique, have been investigated. X-ray diffraction analysis showed that all the samples crystallized in the perovskite structure. The presence of infrared absorption bands around 442 cm−1 and 550 cm−1 supports the formation of perovskite structure of the system. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) studies of the materials at room temperature showed that the average grain size of the samples decreased gradually with increasing BaMnO3 content in the BBFMO system. Detailed studies of impedance parameters revealed that the electrical properties related to the impedance of the solid solutions were strongly dependent on temperature and frequency. Ferroelectric measurements revealed that the electric polarization was significantly enhanced with increasing BaMnO3 content in the solid solution. The room-temperature M–H curves of the samples suggested that, with increasing BaMnO3 content in the system, the magnetic coercive field decreased, thus enhancing the ferromagnetic property of the prepared solid solutions.

Santiranjan Shannigrahi

Papers

Structure and properties of WO3-doped Pb0.97La0.03(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O3 ferroelectric thin films prepared by a sol-gel process

Micro-electromechanical devices and methods of fabricating thereof

Electro-optic ceramic materials

Electronic structure, magnetic and electrical properties of multiferroic PbFe1/2Ta1/2O3

Structural, Electrical, and Magnetic Properties of Mechanosynthesized (1−x)BiFeO3-xBaMnO3 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.15) Multiferroic System