The main objective of the project is the development of complex transition metal oxides with perovskite-like structure having improved and controllable (multi)ferroic properties. The mentioned materials are manganites and ferrites with optimal composition having distinct magnetization, polarization, (magneto) transport properties or magnetoelectric coupling. The idea of the project is to utilize reduced structural stability of these oxides, which increases their sensitivity to external stimuli. Improved functional properties of these oxides can be controlled via modification of the chemical bond character, structural parameters, stoichiometry, defects etc. The reduced stability is associated with the metastable structural state formed near the phase boundaries, while this state presumably consists of coexistent nanoscale regions of the adjacent structural phases. There are two ideas to create metastable state: the first one – to design ceramics via chemical substitution and post-synthesis treatment by high pressure and/or thermal cycling in gases to induce nanoscale regions, the second one assumes chemical routes synthesis of films and ceramics.

Francisk Skorina Gomel State University (BY), Institute of Physics of National Academy of Science of Ukraine (UA), Instytut Niskich Temperatur I Badan Strukturalnych Im. Wlodzimierza Trzebiat (PL), Nanoceramics Spolka Akcyjna (PL), National Academy of Sciences of Belarus (BY), Universidade De Aveiro (PT), Vilniaus Universitetas (LT)