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Magnetic Field‐Induced Ferroelectric Switching in Multiferroic Aurivillius Phase Thin Films at Room Temperature
Author(s) -
Keeney Lynette,
Maity Tuhin,
Schmidt Michael,
Amann Andreas,
Deepak Nitin,
Petkov Nikolay,
Roy Saibal,
Pemble Martyn E.,
Whatmore Roger W.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of the american ceramic society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.9
H-Index - 196
eISSN - 1551-2916
pISSN - 0002-7820
DOI - 10.1111/jace.12467
Subject(s) - aurivillius , ferroelectricity , materials science , multiferroics , piezoresponse force microscopy , ferromagnetism , antiferromagnetism , condensed matter physics , thin film , ferromagnetic material properties , magnetic field , nanotechnology , magnetization , optoelectronics , dielectric , physics , quantum mechanics
Single‐phase multiferroic materials are of considerable interest for future memory and sensing applications. Thin films of Aurivillius phase Bi 7 Ti 3 Fe 3 O 21 and Bi 6 Ti 2.8 Fe 1.52 Mn 0.68 O 18 (possessing six and five perovskite units per half‐cell, respectively) have been prepared by chemical solution deposition on c ‐plane sapphire. Superconducting quantum interference device magnetometry reveal Bi 7 Ti 3 Fe 3 O 21 to be antiferromagnetic ( T N = 190 K) and weakly ferromagnetic below 35 K, however, Bi 6 Ti 2.8 Fe 1.52 Mn 0.68 O 18 gives a distinct room‐temperature in‐plane ferromagnetic signature ( M s = 0.74 emu/g, μ 0 H c =7 mT). Microstructural analysis, coupled with the use of a statistical analysis of the data, allows us to conclude that ferromagnetism does not originate from second phase inclusions, with a confidence level of 99.5%. Piezoresponse force microscopy ( PFM ) demonstrates room‐temperature ferroelectricity in both films, whereas PFM observations on Bi 6 Ti 2.8 Fe 1.52 Mn 0.68 O 18 show Aurivillius grains undergo ferroelectric domain polarization switching induced by an applied magnetic field. Here, we show for the first time that Bi 6 Ti 2.8 Fe 1.52 Mn 0.68 O 18 thin films are both ferroelectric and ferromagnetic and, demonstrate magnetic field‐induced switching of ferroelectric polarization in individual Aurivillius phase grains at room temperature.