Tailoring Room-Temperature Ferroelectric and Magnetoelectric Properties in La and Se co-doped BiFeO3 Embedded Ti3C2Tx MXene Free-standing Film

Abstract

As the demand for advanced data storage technology rises, we are exploring materials that provide precise control. Among the potential applications for two-dimensional materials, there is a notable interest in exploring multiferroic materials that respond to both electric and magnetic fields. In this research, we used two-dimensional (2D) layered titanium carbide (Ti3C2Tx) from the MXene class, La-doped Bismuth Ferrite (BLFO) and La- and Se-co-doped BFO (BLFSO) to make hybrid composites. Pure Ti3C2Tx is not ferroelectric and exhibits a very low magnetic response at room temperature, but it shows ferroelectric behavior after generating new phases of titanium dioxide (TiO2) on its surface upon heat treatment. The hybrid composites show good ferroelectric and magnetic response which are further enhanced after annealing. Our results showed that the heated BLFSO-embedded Ti3C2Tx hybrid composite showed maximum remanent polarization with lower leakage current and higher dielectric response. The ferroelectric hysteresis loops are consistent at different frequencies. The prepared samples also exhibited tunable polarization response at an applied static magnetic field, unveiling their magnetoelectric properties.