Polar and magnetic properties of PbVO3 thin films

Multifunctional materials promise to provide the foundation for a class of devices in which electrical, magnetic, elastic, and other properties are coupled to one another. Here we present evidence for piezoelectricity and antiferromagnetic ordering in a multifunctional material PbVO3. Through the use of second-harmonic generation and x-ray linear dichroism, we determine a transition from a polar-only 4mm state to a polar and magnetic state below similar to 100-130 K. In combination with theory, the magnetic symmetry has been narrowed to be G type (4'/m'mm') or spin glass. An effective piezoelectric coefficient of d(33)similar to 3.1 pC/N was also measured in the polar state at room temperature.