Directed Self-Assembly of Epitaxial CoFe2O4-BiFeO3 Multiferroic Nanocomposites

TL;DR

This paper introduces a self-assembly technique to create patterned epitaxial CoFe2O4-BiFeO3 nanocomposites with ordered CFO pillars, enhancing their potential for memory and logic device applications.

Contribution

The study demonstrates a novel method to produce ordered, patterned CFO-BFO nanocomposites via self-assembly, overcoming random pillar formation.

Findings

Produced square arrays of CFO pillars

Achieved epitaxial growth of nanocomposites

Controlled patterning of nanostructures

Abstract

CoFe${}_{2}$O${}_{4}$ (CFO)-BiFeO${}_{3}$ (BFO) nanocomposites are an intriguing option for future memory and logic technologies due to the magnetoelctric properties of the system. However, these nanocomposites form with CFO pillars randomly located within a BFO matrix, making implementation in devices difficult. To overcome this, we present a technique to produce patterned nanocomposites through self-assembly. CFO islands are patterned on Nb-doped SrTiO${}_{3}$ to direct the self-assembly of epitaxial CFO-BFO nanocomposites, producing square arrays of CFO pillars.