The atomic resolution chemical structure of defects in multiferroic oxides
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Glasgow
Department Name: School of Physics and Astronomy
Abstract
Multiferroic materials have the potential to make a disruptive change to data storage in mass market consumer electronics. In principle, a multiferroic may hold a permanent magnetisation at the same time as a permanent electrical polarisation, with the two strongly coupled. This allows memory designers to produce arrays of bits in which digital data may be stored using an electric field (which is easy and takes little space), and read using a magnetic sensor (which is fantastically sensitive). Using such technology, digital information may be stored at much greater densities and thus hand held devices such as iPads, iPods and smartphones could operate with great memory and speed.
Bismuth ferrite (BiFeO3) is one of the few materials that promises to deliver magnetoelectric coupling at room temperature since it has both a permanent magnetisation and polarisation. Unfortunately, the magnetic ordering is very complex with only a weak ferromagnetic response. Moreover, the high conductivity ensures that the dielectric and ferroelectric properties cannot be optimised. Despite these problems, Prof. Reaney's research group at Sheffield have made significant advances by the use of the appropriate isovalent A-site (Nd3+) and aliovalent B-site (Ti4+) substituents in enhancing the ferromagnetic response and decreasing conductivity. Our initial results, however, show that there are many unusual features in the crystal structure which arise due to the doping mechanism which need to be understood if the properties are to be further improved.
The aim of the proposal therefore is to understand the doping mechanism in BiFeO3 on the the atomic scale, by examining ceramics at very high resolution in the scanning transmission electron microscope at the SuperSTEM facility, at the Daresbury Science and Innovation Campus. This will allow us to study the structure and chemistry of defects with atomic resolution and allow us to better understand which dopants are most effective in modifying the structure and properties of BiFeO3. The results will enable the CI at the University of Sheffield to improve ceramic formulations and processing parameters and thus enhance the magnetic and electrical properties, leading to the development of next generation memory storage devices.
Bismuth ferrite (BiFeO3) is one of the few materials that promises to deliver magnetoelectric coupling at room temperature since it has both a permanent magnetisation and polarisation. Unfortunately, the magnetic ordering is very complex with only a weak ferromagnetic response. Moreover, the high conductivity ensures that the dielectric and ferroelectric properties cannot be optimised. Despite these problems, Prof. Reaney's research group at Sheffield have made significant advances by the use of the appropriate isovalent A-site (Nd3+) and aliovalent B-site (Ti4+) substituents in enhancing the ferromagnetic response and decreasing conductivity. Our initial results, however, show that there are many unusual features in the crystal structure which arise due to the doping mechanism which need to be understood if the properties are to be further improved.
The aim of the proposal therefore is to understand the doping mechanism in BiFeO3 on the the atomic scale, by examining ceramics at very high resolution in the scanning transmission electron microscope at the SuperSTEM facility, at the Daresbury Science and Innovation Campus. This will allow us to study the structure and chemistry of defects with atomic resolution and allow us to better understand which dopants are most effective in modifying the structure and properties of BiFeO3. The results will enable the CI at the University of Sheffield to improve ceramic formulations and processing parameters and thus enhance the magnetic and electrical properties, leading to the development of next generation memory storage devices.
Planned Impact
Room temperature multiferroic materials have many potential applications in the field of memory devices and spintronics. This research seeks to understand at a fundamental level how dopant atoms behave when used to modify magnetic ordering and conductivity in BiFeO3-based ceramics. It has already become clear that the dopants (Nd3+ and Ti4+) do not simply act in an ideal fashion as solid solutes, but that some aggregate to form non-stoichiometric defects, thus rendering doping less effective. If we are to use doping to control magnetic ordering and resistivity in multiferroic ceramics, it is essential that we understand the nano- and atomic-scale consequences of doping. The immediate benefit of the dissemination of this knowledge is to allow researchers within the field to improve their doping strategies and thus facilitate the development of reliable room temperature multiferroic ceramics. It is envisaged however, that within 5-10 years of completing this research a new generation of mass market consumer electronics will be marketed based on multiferroic device elements and thus, the programme has the potential of clear economic benefits to the UK in the medium term.
Organisations
Publications
Reaney I
(2012)
Defect chemistry of Ti-doped antiferroelectric Bi0.85Nd0.15FeO3
in Applied Physics Letters
MacLaren I
(2014)
Aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy for atomic-resolution studies of functional oxides
in International Materials Reviews
MacLaren I
(2014)
The atomic structure and chemistry of Fe-rich steps on antiphase boundaries in Ti-doped Bi0.9Nd0.15FeO3
in APL Materials
MacLaren I
(2012)
Novel Nanorod Precipitate Formation in Neodymium and Titanium Codoped Bismuth Ferrite
in Advanced Functional Materials
MacLaren I
(2013)
Local stabilisation of polar order at charged antiphase boundaries in antiferroelectric (Bi0.85Nd0.15)(Ti0.1Fe0.9)O3
in APL MATERIALS
MacLaren I
(2015)
On the origin of differential phase contrast at a locally charged and globally charge-compensated domain boundary in a polar-ordered material.
in Ultramicroscopy
Description | Defects in Nd,Ti co-doped BiFeO3 are dominated by the influence of Ti. This causes both the precipitation of novel NdOx nanorods just two atoms across, as well the formation of unique antiphase boundaries (APBs) with a core held together by Ti atoms. These latter APBs contain more oxygen than necessary for charge neutrality and are negatively charged in consequence. This results in large fields perpendicular to the APBs, which polarise the surrounding material and stabilise polar order in an otherwise antipolar ordered material. |
Exploitation Route | The findings have led to further work by myself and co-workers, potentially provide an interpretation to recent unpublished data from another University seen by myself, and appears to have partially inspired the creation of a new series of chemical compounds [Batuk et al., INORGANIC CHEMISTRY 55 (2016) 1245-1257] |
Sectors | Other |