Multiferroics

Multiferroics are defined as materials that exhibit more than one of the primary <a href="/facts/Ferroics/zd5Cj66J">ferroic</a> properties in the same phase: 

<ul><li><a href="/facts/Ferromagnetism/fH3HFnSl">ferromagnetism</a> – a magnetisation that is switchable by an applied magnetic field</li>
<li><a href="/facts/Ferroelectricity/DLVYFNQT">ferroelectricity</a> – an electric polarisation that is switchable by an applied electric field</li>
<li><a href="/facts/Ferroelasticity/fm52FPed">ferroelasticity</a> – a deformation that is switchable by an applied stress</li></ul>
While ferroelectric ferroelastics and ferromagnetics are formally multiferroics, these days the term is usually used to describe the <a href="/facts/Magnetoelectric_effect/gdEMDvYC">magnetoelectric</a> multiferroics that are simultaneously ferromagnetic and ferroelectric. Sometimes the definition is expanded to include nonprimary order parameters, such as <a href="/facts/Antiferromagnetism/aQ124Kh7">antiferromagnetism</a> or <a href="/facts/Ferrimagnetism/sMcg7RYt">ferrimagnetism</a>. In addition, other types of primary order, such as ferroic arrangements of magnetoelectric multipoles of which <a href="/facts/Toroidal_moment/RN0bw3da">ferrotoroidicity</a> is an example, were proposed.
Besides scientific interest in their physical properties, multiferroics have potential for applications as actuators, switches, magnetic field sensors and new types of electronic memory devices.

Multiferroics open-in-new

Multiferroics