Mechanisms and origin of multiferroicity

TL;DR

This paper reviews the fundamental mechanisms behind multiferroicity, focusing on transition-metal oxides, highlighting recent theoretical and experimental progress in understanding their coupled ferroelectric and magnetic properties.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive review of the fundamental mechanisms responsible for multiferroicity in transition-metal oxides, integrating recent theoretical and experimental insights.

Findings

Identification of different mechanisms for ferroelectric polarization

Understanding of coupling between magnetic and electric properties

Advancements in theoretical models of multiferroicity

Abstract

Motivated by the potential applications of their intrinsic cross-coupling properties, the interest in multiferroic materials has constantly increased recently, leading to significant experimental and theoretical advancements. From the theoretical point of view, recent progresses have allowed to identify different mechanisms responsible for the appearence of ferroelectric polarization coexisting with -- and coupled to -- magnetic properties. This chapter aims at reviewing the fundamental mechanisms devised so far, mainly in transition-metal oxides, which lie at the origin of multiferroicity.