Multiferroic nanoscale Bi2FeCrO6 material for spintronic-related applications

We report the control of the growth mode of Bi2FeCrO6 thin and ultrathin films by either tuning the pulsed laser deposition parameters or by using a buffer layer. The films are epitaxial and the heterostructures exhibit very smooth interfaces, thus eliminating the main obstacle in the realization of tunnel junctions. By characterizing the functional properties of thin films we find that Bi2FeCrO6 retains its room temperature multiferroic character even at the nanoscale. The coexistence of these properties in ultra-thin Bi2FeCrO6 films will pave the way to design multifunctional devices for applications in spintronics and electronics, such as ferroelectric tunnel junctions or magnetic tunnel junctions with ferroelectric barriers.