Development of new wireless and low energy consuming micro-sized sensors is extremely important because of the growing demands for effective monitoring of the operational status of mechanisms, environmental conditions, and safety systems (including those designed to avert terroristic threats). Materials that combine magnetic, polar, and elastic orders (so called multiferroics) are considered as active elements in various new-generation sensors. The main objective of this project was development of novel environmental friendly multiferroics based on metastable perovskites and on layered double hydroxides in which a cross-coupling between ferroic order parameters can be tuned by both internal and external factors. Such materials in forms of films and/or arranged layers find use as magnetic field sensors, sensors of deformation/shock, and environmental sensors. Since the objectives to prepare, characterize, optimize, and modify these novel multiferroic materials required consolidation of specialists of complementary expertise in Physics, Chemistry, and Material Science and Engineering, with access to and skills in using specific and unique equipment and facilities, the interdisciplinary network of teams with different scientific culture and ensuring the effective knowledge & expertise transfer has been formed.
The overall objectives of the project have been achieved. Novel approaches to predict, design and produce new magnetic and multiferroic materials: complex oxides with perovskite-type structure and layered double hydroxides have been suggested and proved. Although Bi-containing compositions were initially considered, it has been found that these approaches can be successfully applied to chemically diverse perovskite-related oxides and layered double hydroxides. The interdisciplinary network of the project has demonstrated its efficiency and a stable trend to extension via new projects and other collaboration schemes with new teams that conduct research in related areas.
