BiFeO3 Thin Films: A Playground for Exploring Electric-Field Control of Multifunctionalities

A promising approach to the next generation of low-power, functional, and green nanoelectronics relies on advances in the electric-field control of lattice, charge, orbital, and spin degrees of freedom in novel materials. The possibility of electric-field control of these multiple materials functionalities offers interesting options across a range of modern technologies, including information communication, computing processes, data storage, active components, and functional electronics. This article reviews electric-field control and modulation of various degrees of freedom through the medium of multiferroic BiFeO3. Coexisting order parameters and inherent couplings in this materials system form a potent playground, enabling direct and indirect manipulation to obtain intriguing properties and functionalities with an electric stimulus. An in-depth understanding of those electrically controlled phenomena and breakthroughs is highlighted, paving a new route toward multifunctional nanoelectronics. This article concludes with a brief discussion on foreseeable challenges as well as future directions.