Published online by Cambridge University Press: 03 March 2011
We have developed material (Bi0.7Dy0.3FeO3)(BDFO) which exhibits the multiferroic behavior at room temperature with significant coupling in bulk as well as thin films. If these properties could be fashioned in nano rods, implementation in devices could be certainly more prominent and straight forward. We have therefore used vertically aligned arrays of silicon rods (~5 μm in length and ~ 500 nm in diameter) as base material to direct the growth of BDFO in rod form. BDFO is deposited on the surface of Si rods by using pulsed laser deposition technique. These BDFO/Si rods are then separated from the support, dispersed into propanol and transferred onto SiO2/Si substrates for testing. X-ray diffraction (XRD) results indicate presence of phase pure BDFO layer on Si rods. Saturation observed at room temperature in magnetic and ferroelectric hysteresis loops confirm the coexistence of ferromagnetic and ferroelectric properties. Change in ferroelectric polarization measured on single rod in the presence of applied magnetic field suggests the coupling behavior between two order parameters. Moreover, change in magnetic domain pattern of BDFO rods associated with applied electric field further supports the presence of coupling behavior in both ways. The vertical and lateral displacement occurring in BDFO/Si rods with applied electric field helps to confirm their piezoresponce behavior. BDFO/Si nanorods with multifunctional properties could find variety of novel device applications with flexibility and simplicity in operation. It might include single rod power generation by means of applied stress or magnetic field.