Multiferroic Materials: Physics and Properties

Multiferroic response of nanocrystalline lithium niobate

“…1 In this material the off centering Nb 5þ condition originated from its d 0 electronic states, eliminates the possibility of magnetism arising from local magnetic moments associated with the occupation of d-states at the Nb sites. 2 Recent studies have shown room temperature ferromagnetism in nanoparticles (NPs) of nonmagnetic oxides such as CeO 2 , Al 2 O 3 , ZnO, In 2 O 3 , and SnO2, 3 and a variety of inorganic materials NPs like gallium nitride (GaN), chalcogenides (CdS and CdSe), superconducting YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7 and the classic ferroelectric BaTiO 3 . 4 In the above mentioned research, the authors have assumed that the origin of ferromagnetism may be due to the exchange interactions between localized electron spin moments resulting from point defects (oxygen vacancies) at the surfaces of NPs.…”

A study of structural phase transition, vibration, optical, and magnetic properties of Fe-doped PbTiO3 nanostructured powders

“…Unfortunately, it is very hard to find multiferroics in both natural and laboratory conditions because of the mutual exclusive between mechanism of off-centered ferroelectric polarization (requires an empty d orbital) and atomic magnetic moment condition (requires a partially occupied d orbital) [1][2][3]. In recent years, there has been much research focused on Bi-based perovskites such as BiFeO 3 and BiMnO 3 materials since they are among the few natural multiferroics, which exhibit both ferroelectric and antiferromagnetic ordering at room temperature.…”