Magnetoelectric materials: some recent results and possible applications

The magnetoelectric (ME) materials exhibit ferroelectric/ferrielectric/antiferroelectric properties in combination with ferromagnetic/ferrimagnetic/antiferromagnetic properties. Under the action of external magnetic field, such materials would show electric polarizations, while the external electric field would induce magnetization. In most of the known ME materials measurable output was recorded at very low temperatures. However, for practical applications it is desirable to synthesize new ME materials which undergo dielectric and magnetic transitions above room temperature and exhibit enhanced ME output.