Design and development of novel ceramic materials with multiferroic Properties

Multiferroic materials constitute a group of multifunctional systems with properties of enormous applicability in spintronic technology. In this manuscript, the fundamental characteristics of this group of interesting materials are presented, exemplified by an M-type hexaferrite compound (BaTi₂Mn₂Fe₈O₁₉), the synthesis of which was carried out using the solid-state reaction technique. The results show a hexagonal structure consisting of several sub-cells characterized by the presence of polyhedra, the centers of which are occupied by Fe, Mn and Ti cations coordinated with oxygen anions to form octahedral, tetrahedral and bipyramidal structures. The multiferroic character was verified by magnetization and electric polarization measurements as a function of magnetic and electric fields, respectively. This material exemplifies the methodology to be followed in the design of novel multiferroic materials.

Keywords:
Magnetoelectricity; hexaferrites; ferromagnetism; ferroelectricity