Self-assembled epitaxial BiFeO3-MgO and BiFeO3-MgAl2O4 nanocomposite thin films were grown on SrTiO3 substrates by pulsed laser deposition. A two-phase columnar structure was observed for BiFeO3-MgO codeposition within a small window of growth parameters, in which the pillars consisted of a magnetic spinel phase (Mg,Fe)3O4 within a BiFeO3 matrix, similar to the growth of BiFeO3-MgFe2O4 nanocomp...

In the past decade, self-assembled vertical nano-heterostructures have drawn considerable attention because a high interface-to-volume ratio can be used to tailor or create functionalities. We have systematically investigated the magnetic properties of oxide heterostructures consisting of the CoFe2O4 nanopillars embedded in the BiFeO3 matrix using macroscopic magnetization measurements and elem...

Voltage controlled 180° magnetization reversal has been achieved in BiFeO3-based multiferroic heterostructures, which is promising for the future development of low-power spintronic devices. However, all existing reports involve the use of an in-plane voltage that is unfavorable for practical device applications. Here, we investigate, using phase-field simulations, the out-of-plane (i.e., perpe...

We report a potential way to enhance and tune the multiferroic and resistive switching properties of BiFeO3 nanoparticles through dilute aliovalent Li(1+) doping (0.046 atomic percent) at the Fe(3+) sites of BiFeO3. The high purity of the samples and the extent of doping were confirmed by different physical characterizations. Enhanced multiferroic properties with a magnetic moment per Fe atom ≈...

Hollow BiFeO3nanoparticles were synthesized by an electrospray route for the first time. The phase purity and structure have been investigated by x-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. Transmission and scanning electron microscope investigations revealed that the as-obtained BiFeO3 hollow spheres were polycrystalline, with a shell thickness of 35 nm. The formation mechanism can be possibly e...

Adv. Mater. 2009, 21, 817–823 2009 WILEY-VCH Verlag Gm Multiferroic BiFeO3 has attracted great interest due to its promising application tomagnetoelectric devices. In addition, the high remanent polarization and piezoelectric response of BiFeO3 thin films, which are comparable to those of conventional Ti-rich lead zirconia titanate, suggested BiFeO3 as a strong candidate for lead-free nonvolati...

We demonstrate a direct correlation between the domain structure of multiferroic BiFeO3 thin films and exchange bias of Co 0.9Fe 0.1/BiFeO3 heterostructures. Two distinct types of interactions - an enhancement of the coercive field ( exchange enhancement) and an enhancement of the coercive field combined with large shifts of the hysteresis loop ( exchange bias) - have been observed in these het...

We report the significant improvement of the ferroelectric properties of BiFeO3thin film through control of electrical leakage by Nb doping. A very large remanent electrical polarization value of 80 μC/cm2 was observed in Bi0.8La0.2Nb0.01Fe0.99O3 thin film on Pt/Ti/SiO2/Si substrate. The doping effect of Nb in reducing the movable charge density due to oxygen vacancies in BiFeO3 was confirmed b...

Recent neutron diffraction and NMR studies suggest that the incommensurately modulated spin cycloid structure of BiFeO3 is stable down to 4.2 K, whereas DC [M(T)] and AC [χ (ω, T)] magnetization, and caloric studies have revealed several magnetic transitions including a spin glass transition around 25 K. The two sets of observations are irreconcilable and to settle this, it is important to firs...

First-principles calculations are performed to investigate the structures, electrical, and magnetic properties of compressive BiFeO3 films under electric-field and pressure perpendicular to the films. A reversible electric-field-induced strain up 10% is achieved in the compressive BiFeO3 films. The giant strain originates from rhombohedral-tetragonal (R-T) phase transition under electric-filed,...