Pr-Fe co-doping induced room temperature multiferroic properties in SrTiO^sub 3^ films

The structural, leakage current, ferroelectric and magnetic studies of the co-doped SPTFx (x=0.1, 0.2 and 0.3) films have been investigated. X-ray diffraction and atomic force microscopy reveal the microstructure of the samples. It is found that the dc leakage currents of the films are enhanced gradually with increasing Fe ions due to the variable valence of Fe ions and the increase of oxygen vacancies (OVs). More importantly, both the room-temperature ferroelectric and ferromagnetic properties are successfully realized in STO films, whose possible causes are discussed. This work provides an effective method for the induction of the multiferroic properties in paraelectric materials.