@article{33622, keywords = {thin films, Epitaxial growth, ferroelectricity, Magnetization, Magnetoelectric coupling, Atomic-level engineering, Interfacial coupling, Thin-film multiferroics}, author = {Ramamoorthy Ramesh and N.A Spaldin}, title = {Multiferroics: Progress and prospects in thin films}, abstract = {Multiferroic materials, which show simultaneous ferroelectric and magnetic ordering, exhibit unusual physical properties and in turn promise new device applications as a result of the coupling between their dual order parameters. We review recent progress in the growth, characterization and understanding of thin-film multiferroics. The availability of high-quality thin-film multiferroics makes it easier to tailor their properties through epitaxial strain, atomic-level engineering of chemistry and interfacial coupling, and is a prerequisite for their incorporation into practical devices. We discuss novel device paradigms based on magnetoelectric coupling, and outline the key scientific challenges in the field. © 2007 Nature Publishing Group.}, year = {2007}, journal = {Nature Materials}, volume = {6}, number = {1}, pages = {21-29}, issn = {14761122}, doi = {10.1038/nmat1805}, note = {cited By 2950}, language = {eng}, }