Novel Multiferroic Perovskites through Systematic Design

Ferroics are a class of materials that, below a certain ordering temperature, display either a long range ordering of microscopic +/- dipoles or of magnetic north-south (N/S) poles. These orderings on the microscopic atomic length scale give rise to macroscopic measurable physical properties. The +/- dipoles or N/S poles can be read and manipulated on the nanoscale by applying electronic and magnetic stimuli. In this manner existing technologies use materials like this in data storage devices where the "storage bits", the 1's and 0's correspond to the different state of either +/- or N/S. However, for next generation storage devices to improve energy consumption, increase speeds and data density, it will be desirable to have a new class of "multiferroic materials" in which these two phenomena of +/- charge dipoles and N/S magnetic state, not only coexist with one another, but are strongly coupled and depend on each other. This has significant advantages in that the data written by applying an electric field to switch a +/- state can now be read back quickly and non-destructively using a magnetic field to sense the flipping of the N/S pole. However, as yet it is still a substantial challenge to identify new materials that display this desired coupling between these two ferroic properties at or near room temperature, which would make such a device possible.
The present work uses a novel approach to enumerate the possible types of materials exhibiting these properties, leading to a systematic strategy for attempting to make and test these materials for the desired physical properties. The work will contribute both new fundamental mechanistic insight into how multiferroic materials work, and can be rationally designed, as well as providing new materials that may be tested for application in next generation storage technologies.

I have achieved a wide dissemination of my results through my work being highlighted in central facilities (ESRF, Diamond and ISIS) reports. I have also participated in public engagement events through Diamond Light Source, explaining key scientific results in layman's terms to both children and adults. My strong collaboration with researchers at central facilities such as Diamond Light Source will enable me to continue to use their outreach program as a vehicle to engage the general public with my research. I will continue to contribute to an increasing public awareness and understanding of science, through the public engagement activities detailed in my pathways to impact statement of this proposal. Specifically, we will produce a short science communication video describing the real world application of our research, and we will design an outreach activity to be delivered to secondary school children in the Midlands.

The training of skilled scientist who can contribute to solving industrially relevant problems in a non-academic environment is an important by-product of the training delivered to researchers within my group. For example, one of my PhD students (Chris Ablitt) is currently undertaking an 8 month placement in R&D with BOSCH in Boston where he is using skills learned in my research group to tackle industry relevant problems related to energy storage materials. I aim to foster this relationship during the three years of the project by sending another PhD student for a 6 month placement. In addition, as part of my pathways to impact, I will organise a workshop in the 3rd year of the grant to bring industrial and academic beneficiaries together to promote an exchange of ideas and new collaborations.

Equipping the next generation of scientist to tackle fundamental and applied problems related to the crystallographic structure of compounds and materials is key to the health of a broad range of physical sciences research within the UK. I currently teach at the leading postgraduate school on crystallography (BCA/CCG Intensive Teaching School in X-Ray Structure Analysis) and have also recently organised and taught at a new school in advanced physical crystallography. My teachings in this area are actively informed by my research within the field of crystallography and solid state chemistry. These schools which I will continue to teach on throughout the life time of this grant, and whose topic areas are stimulated by my area of research, will help to ensure that the next generation of scientists, including those with an industrial background, are equipped to tackle fundamental and applied questions in the field of materials research.