Recent advances in multiferroic thin films and composites

In the present paper after providing a brief introduction on polarization, magnetic ordering, and magnetoelectric coupling, we have reviewed the material characteristics of some widely studied single phase as well as solid solution type multiferroic thin films. Our group has recently demonstrated magnetoelectric coupling in lanthanum doped lead titanate (PLT): cobalt iron oxide (CFO) 0–3 type thin films prepared using sol–gel route. These composite films exhibit room temperature ferroelectric, ferromagnetic hysteresis loop and the desired magnetoelectric coupling. It has been observed that the presence of these CFO and PLT phases as well as the related disturbance of film stoichiometry have significant effect on the performance of these sol–gel derived 0–3 multiferroic thin films. In the final part of the review we have identified that certain rare earth based oxides could be considered as attractive material candidates for high performance multiferroic applications.