Novel room temperature Multiferroics for Random Access Memory Elements

We have fabricated a variety of "PZT-PFW" (PbZr0.52Ti0.48O3)1-x(PbFe2/3W1/3O3)x [PZTFWx; 0.2 < x < 0.4] single-phase tetragonal ferroelectrics via chemical solution deposition (CSD) [polycrystalline] and pulsed laser deposition (PLD) [epitaxial] onto Pt/Ti/SiO2/Si(100) and SrTiO3/Si substrates. These exhibit ferroelectricity and (weak) ferromagnetism above room temperature with strain coupling via electrostriction and magnetostriction. Application of modest magnetic field strength ((mu)0H < 1.0 Tesla) destabilizes the long-range ferroelectric ordering and switches the polarization from ca. 22 (mu)C/cm2 (0.22 C/m2) to zero (relaxor state). This offers the possibility of three-state logic (+P, 0, -P) and magnetically switched polarizations. Because the switching is of large magnitude (unlike the very small nC/cm2 values in terbium manganites) and at room-temperature, commercial devices should be possible.

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