Evidence for room-temperature multiferroicity in a compound with a giant axial ratio

Phys Rev Lett. 2009 May 29;102(21):217603. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.102.217603. Epub 2009 May 27.

Abstract

In the search for multiferroic materials magnetic compounds with a strongly elongated unit-cell (large axial ratio c/a) have been scrutinized intensely. However, none was hitherto proven to have a switchable polarization, an essential feature of ferroelectrics. Here, we provide evidence for the epitaxial stabilization of a monoclinic phase of BiFeO3 with a giant axial ratio (c/a=1.23) that is both ferroelectric and magnetic at room temperature. Surprisingly, and in contrast with previous theoretical predictions, the polarization does not increase dramatically with c/a. We discuss our results in terms of the competition between polar and antiferrodistortive instabilities and give perspectives for engineering multiferroic phases.