Obtaining the two properties in one material to make sensors, computer memory and other components from is highly sought after. But, they have been shown to be almost entirely mutually exclusive: a material is either magnetic or ferroelectric, until now.
"Ours is certainly not the first attempt at obtaining a material of this kind, but up to this point there has been little in terms of satisfying results," Massimo Capone, SISSA researcher, said. "Our method is based on a surprising system." Capone and his colleagues' work is a theoretical study which will serve as a guide for developing the material itself.
"Our approach is based on creating a sort of sandwich with layers of Lithium Osmate, a ferroelectric metallic material, alternating with insulating material. Adding insulation causes magnetic properties to emerge from two non-magnetic materials. This heterostructure arrangement slows down electrons in the system, and it is this phenomenon that leads to the emergence of magnetism," explained Gianluca Giovanetti, SISSA/CNR IOM researcher.
"Our theoretical model shows a clear effect, and furthermore, we show that it is possible to control ferroelectricity with magnetism, another important property," concluded Capone. "The next step will be to test the material itself."
