Magnetic, electric, and optical functionalities of (PLZT)x(BiFeO3)1-x ferroelectric-ferromagnetic thin films

We have prepared a series of (PLZT)(x)(BiFeO3)(1-x) transparent thin films with thickness of 300 nm by a thermal pyrolysis method. Only films with x less than or equal to 0.10 formed a single phase of perovskite structure. The film where x = 0.10 exhibited both ferromagnetic and ferroelectric properties at room temperature with spontaneous magnetization and coercive magnetic fields of 0.0027mu(B) and 5500 G, respectively. The remanent electric polarization and coercive electric field for the film where x = 0.10 were 3.0 muC/cm(2) and 24 kV/cm, respectively. Additionally, films with 0.02 less than or equal to x less than or equal to 0.10 showed both magneto-optical effects and the second harmonic generation of transmitted light. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.