Progress and prospects in low-dimensional multiferroic materials

Functional materials with ferroelectricity or multiferroicity based on two-dimensional (2D) materials have been a fast developing field which attracts intensive investigations due to their potential applications and underlying new science. In this study, we review recent progress in theoretical simulation and experimental observation of low-dimensional multiferroic materials, including exploring 2D van der Waals ferroelectrics, designing ferroelectrics or multiferroics by various manipulations such as chemical functionalization or external strain. The reported new physical mechanisms are also provided to explain the low-dimensional multiferroics. We also discuss several exciting possibilities for design of devices based on these materials in novel applications. This article is categorized under: Structure and Mechanism > Computational Materials Science