Multiferroics Materials
Ferroelectric Material Ferromagnetic Material
Ferromagnetic and ferroelectric materials are characterized by hysteresis loops, which indicate
the maximum magnetization/polarization with applied magnetic/ electric fields, coercive
magnetic/electric fields and remanent magnetization/polarization, etc.
Ferroelasticity
Ferroelasticity is a property exhibited by certain materials where they undergo reversible
mechanical deformation or strain in response to an applied stress or electric field.
This deformation is characterized by a change in the crystal structure of the material without any
change in its chemical composition.
Ferroelastic materials can exist in multiple crystallographic phases, and the transition between
these phases is reversible and can be controlled by an external stimulus.
Similar to ferroelectric and ferromagnetic materials, ferroelastic materials often exhibit hysteresis
in their stress-strain or electric field-strain curves.
Applications: Ferroelastic materials have applications in various fields, including actuators,
sensors, and memory devices. The ability to reversibly change shape in response to an external
stimulus is particularly useful in devices where precise and controllable mechanical motion is
required.
Materials: Examples of ferroelastic materials include certain ceramics, shape-memory alloys,
and single crystals of various compounds. In some cases, these materials can also exhibit other
ferroic properties, such as ferroelectricity or ferromagnetism.
Multiferroics Materials
Ferroics:-
Ferroelectric Ordering- electric charge
Ferromagnetic Ordering- electron spin
Ferroelastic Ordering- Stress
Multiferroics:- Sumultaneous presence of two or more
ferroic ordering in single phase.
Multiferroics are materials that have more than one
ferroic polarization
Primarily the term ‘ferroic polarization’ indicates
spontaneous magnetization, spontaneous electric
polarization or spontaneous strain.
These spontaneous polarizations are realized by the
application of external magnetic fields, electric fields
or mechanical stress below a characteristic
temperature (the Currie temperature)
‘Multiferroic’ was discovered by H. Schmidt in 1994 to indicate material that has either two or
three different kinds of ferroic orders, like ferromagnetism, ferroelectricity and ferroelasticity at
the same time.
The coexistence of ferroelectricity and ferroelasticity,
known as piezoelectricity, has a long history of basic
as well as applied research.
Similarly, coexisting ferromagnetism and
ferroelasticity exhibiting magnetostriction are known
as piezomagnets.
Thus, multiferroic materials can possess more than
one effect for a single cause.
The close relations between different types of polarization representing the coupling
of electric polarization (P), magnetic polarization (M), strain (ε), electric field (E),
magnetic field (H) and stress (σ) and their controls in multiferroic materials are
explained in a figure of coupled variables, is shown in Figure .
Many materials exhibiting ferromagnetism or ferroelectricity have been reported
in the literature and they are becoming a vital part of modern science and technology.
Ferromagnetic materials exhibiting magnetic-field induced switchable spontaneous
magnetization have been used in magnetic data storage devices and magnetic read-and-
write heads of electronic devices. Similarly
switchable, spontaneous electric polarizations induced by electric fields are also used as
non-volatile ferroelectric memories
Currently, the main concern with multiferroics is to find materials with ferroelectric and
ferromagnetic polarization for electronic applications.
In normal ferromagnetic (B-H) or ferroelectric (P-E) loops are observed
However, in ideal multiferroic materials the hysteresis loop can be obtained by either
magnetic or electric fields, thus giving more degrees of freedom for memory storage as
well as for reading and writing.
Saturation
Remanent
Coercive field
BaTiO3
CoFe/NiFe
Composite of Ferroelectric and Ferromagnetic material may show Magnetoelectric coupling
Electric and Magnetic properties are two different phenomena, the origins of the two
are closely related.
In such cases we can expect to enhance the individual polarization as well as to control
the parameters by electrical as well as magnetic fields.
Thus it is possible to increase the capacity of magnetic storage and electrical or
magnetical reading of stored information because of such crossed correlations.
Requirement Criteria:-
Symmetry crystal
Ferroelectric- non centro-symmetric material
(exhibits both properties simultaneously)
Conductivity:-
Ferroelectric- Insulator
Ferromagnetic- Conductor/Semiconductor
d- ions…
Ferroelectric- do
Ferromagnetic- dn
Multiferroics and Magnetoelectrics
Not occurred naturally
Fabricated in laboratory
Limited number of materials
Ex. Nickel Iodine Boracite (Ni3B7O13I), BiFeO3
This exhibits Ferroelectric and Ferromagnetic behavior
Applications:-
If a material has both ferroelectric and ferromagnetic properties, the potential for its
application will be certainly enhanced in many-fold. A simple concept of
magnetoelectric with ferroelectric and antiferromagnetic combination can exhibit
exchange bias properties at a ferromagnetic interface
The use of magnetoelectric properties in magnetic reading and writing and GMR heads
is established commercial technology. However, the use of multiferroic materials will
certainly have more advantages than conventional magnetoelectric materials.
Magneto-electric materials offer the potential for developing greatly improved magnetic
field sensors, as it is easier to measure small voltages at zero applied current than small
magnetizations or small changes in resistivity. Thus the development of ferroelectric
polarization on applied field can easily sense the presence of magnetic fields.
Multiferroics materials also have the potential to generate terahertz radiation. Of course,
many experimental results show that the materials do not use the multiferroic property:
rather, they only use the polrarized state of the ferroelectric property.
Memory Devices: Multiferroic materials can be used in non-volatile memory devices. The
coupling of ferroelectric and ferromagnetic properties allows for the control of magnetization
using an electric field, which can be used for low-power magnetic memory devices.
Magnetoelectric Sensors: Multiferroic materials can be employed in magnetoelectric sensors
that can detect both magnetic and electric fields simultaneously. This is useful in applications like
compasses and navigation systems.
Spintronic Devices: Multiferroic materials are important in the field of spintronics, which aims
to use both the charge and spin of electrons in solid-state devices. They can be used to create
spin-polarized currents and enable new types of data storage and processing.
Tunable Microwave Devices: The ability to control the magnetic and electric properties of
multiferroics allows for the development of tunable microwave devices, such as filters and phase
shifters, that can be adjusted using external fields.
Energy Harvesting: Multiferroic materials can be used to convert mechanical vibrations into
electrical energy. This is useful in self-powered sensors and low-power electronics for remote or
energy-limited applications.
Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS): Multiferroics are valuable in MEMS devices for
their ability to control vibrations, resonances, and actuations using an external magnetic or
electric field.
Medical Imaging: Multiferroic materials can be used in medical imaging devices, such as MRI
and NMR machines, where the combination of ferroelectric and ferromagnetic properties can
lead to improved sensitivity and resolution.
Acoustic Devices: Multiferroics can be used in the development of acoustic devices, such as
ultrasound transducers, by providing precise control over acoustic waves.
Sensor Arrays: Multiferroic materials can be used in sensor arrays for a wide range of
applications, including environmental monitoring, security systems, and industrial process
control.
Non-Volatile Logic Devices: Multiferroics are being investigated for use in non-volatile logic
devices, which could lead to faster and more energy-efficient computing.
Sensors for Artificial Intelligence: The unique properties of multiferroic materials make them
suitable for sensors in artificial intelligence applications, such as neuromorphic computing and
brain-inspired computing.
Antennas and Radomes: Multiferroics can be used in antennas and radomes that can be
electronically steer and control radio waves, making them suitable for communication and
defense applications.
