Manipulating the Coupling in Multiferroic Films

MaCoMuFi is a Specific Targeted Research Project funded by the European Commission, with 9 Universities or Academic Institutes and 5 Industry Partners from 8 countries.

R&D and investment in electronics overwhelmingly focus on multifunctionality, which should meet the market demands for radically new components that are more compact, cheaper, and consume less power. Particular attention is being devoted to MagnetoElectric (ME) multiferroics exhibiting simultaneous FerroMagnetic and FerroElectric properties, both being coupled. Such materials allow reversing the magnetization by an electric field and vice-versa. ME materials can thusly provide optimum solutions to many device-design problems, with a high potential impact on important segments of the electronics market: high-density electric-field controlled MRAM, HF wireless telecoms, spintronics… However the physics of ME coupling is far from being understood. This limits knowledge-based research for materials with optimised properties, and ultimately prohibits industrial use of ME thin films. The objective of the present STREP proposal MaCoMuFi is to “MAnipulate the COupling in MUltiferroic thin FIlms” (made of single phase, multilayers and nanocomposite materials) to ultimately accelerate the development of novel devices for the European Industry. It will set up the first systematic knowledge-based approach in the domain, involving the tight collaboration between oxide synthesis, complex oxides modelling and device design experts.

The main expected outputs of the project are :

 Novel oxide thin films (down to 5nm thick) with significant ME coupling (higher than 1V.cm-1Oe-1) at room temperature

 Proof-of-concept of the innovative Electric field control of magnetic devices (spin filter, magnetic memory, agile filter…) exploiting properties of multiferroics

 Understanding the relationship between process, structure and composition of the multiferroic oxide thin films

 Optimised production processes and tailoring methods

 New techniques for ME coupling measurement and nanostructural characterisation

 A software tool for the design of ceramic thin films with optimum ME properties

See the Cordis website