Development of multiferroic thin films: nanoengineering in the modulation of opto-electro-magnetic properties of emerging materials

• Grant number: 22/03192-7
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Initial Project
• Start date: February 01, 2023
• End date: January 31, 2028
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Electrical Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Everton Bonturim
• Grantee: Everton Bonturim
• Host Institution: Escola de Engenharia (EE). Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie (UPM). Instituto Presbiteriano Mackenzie. São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Bruno Luis Soares de Lima ; Marcos Massi

Abstract

This project presents alternative objectives and experimental methods, considering the current scenario that imposes temporarily restricted practical execution conditions. In this context, the study and development of advanced multiferroic materials are proposed, with an emphasis on the synthesis, preparation, and characterization of rare-earth-doped materials, as well as a comparison between different thin-film deposition methods. Functional materials with coupled optical, electrical, and magnetic properties form the foundation for advancing technologies that surpass current limits of energy efficiency and performance. The project includes the synthesis and development of processes for preparing dense and stoichiometrically controlled ceramic targets for use in RF sputtering and HiPIMS systems, based on rare-earth-doped chemical compositions. This will enable the deposition of multiferroic thin films (such as BiFeO3 and LaBiFeO3), contingent on the acquisition of a substrate holder accessory for the deposition chamber currently under construction. Simultaneously, suspensions of multiferroic particulates will be prepared for thin-film deposition using the spin coating technique, allowing a systematic comparison of the properties of materials deposited by plasma-based techniques and solution-based methods. The development of these emerging materials, such as BiFeO3, will be carried out through nanoengineering strategies, addressing the relationship between Solid-State Chemistry, compositional control, and the modulation of the structural and functional characteristics of the films. The primary goal is to investigate how chemical composition modification and the choice of deposition technique impact ferroic properties, particularly the organization of ferroelectric domains, aiming to create systems with greater energy efficiency and higher information storage density. By exploring both advanced plasma deposition techniques and complementary chemical methods, this project seeks to provide fundamental and technological insights that contribute to the development of innovative electronic devices, such as processors, memories, chemical sensors, actuators, and photovoltaic cells, aligned with the demands of cutting-edge technology. (AU)