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Updated: May 4, 2026

Measuring Magnetically-Tuned Ferroelectric Polarization in Liquid Crystals
Published on: August 15, 2018
Towards novel multiferroic and magnetoelectric materials: dipole stability in tetragonal tungsten bronzes
Andrei Rotaru1, Andrew J Miller, Donna C Arnold
1EaStCHEM School of Chemistry, University of St Andrews, , North Haugh, St Andrews, Fife KY16 9ST, UK.
Abstract:
We discuss the strategy for development of novel functional materials with the tetragonal tungsten bronze structure. From the starting composition Ba6GaNb9O30, the effect of A- and B-site substitutions on the dielectric properties is used to develop an understanding of the origin and stability of the dipolar response in these compounds. Both tetragonal strain induced by large B-site cations and local strain variations created by isovalent A-site substitutions enhance dipole stability but result in a dilute, weakly correlated dipolar response and canonical relaxor behaviour. Decreasing cation size at the perovskite A2-site increases the dipolar displacements in the surrounding octahedra, but insufficiently to result in dipole ordering. Mechanisms introducing small A-site lanthanide cations and incorporation of A-site vacancies to induce ferroelectricity and magnetism are presented.
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