New nano-structured multiferroic materials for low consumption applications.
Subline 2.1.- New epitaxial films of multiferroic oxides.
In this line, the epitaxial growth of perovskites Sr1-xBaxMnO3 (0.5≤x≤1) will be carried out on substrates that structurally resemble the phase to be formed (epitaxial engineering) favoring the appearance of ferroelectricity in magnetic materials. These investigations constitute a challenge, but their achievement would position us as a leading group worldwide.
Subline 2.2.-Multiferroic composites of new ferroelectric binary oxides.
Polycrystalline and epitaxial Hf1-xZrxO (HZO) films will be grown. In particular, Ni / HZO composites will be manufactured trying to achieve, through strain, the magnetoelectric coupling between Ni (magnetostrictive) and HZO (piezoelectric). Coupling efficiency will be tested by characterizing the influence of electric fields on magnetic behaviour and its domain structure.