New multiferroric film offers wearable technology potential

Researchers from South Korea have been able to create a type of thin film that could be used in the creation of bendable or wearable electronic devices.

Described in a paper published in the journal Applied Physics Letters, the new material uses nanoparticles of bismuth ferrite – a promising material with electronic properties that can be controlled by a magnetic field – mixed into a polymer solution.

The solution was dried in a series of steps at increasing temperatures to produce a thin, flexible multiferroric film that not only enhanced the electric and magnetic properties of the raw material, but retained them even when curved.

YoungPak Lee, a professor at Hanyang University in Seoul, said: "Bulk bismuth ferrite has crucial problems for some applications, such as a high leakage current, which hinders the strong electric properties."

It is hoped that this new material could be used to create high-density, energy-efficient memory and switches in future wearable devices, including health monitoring equipment.

The team is now working to improve the multiferroic properties of the film, while also investigating other flexible materials.