Tailoring topological states in multiferroics – TATOO

In the TATOO project, we will first initiate ferroelectric landscapes harbouring polarisation windings in nanostructured multiferroic BiFeO3 thin films. We will promote various polarisation configurations (centre domains or vortices), and observe the corresponding spin winding textures inherently induced by the magnetoelectric coupling, seeking for new ferroelectric and antiferromagnetic topological objects. We will integrate these objects in plane capacitors, allowing full electrical readout of ferroelectric chiral textures, demonstrate low-power switchability and off-power long time retention. Still resorting on magnetoelectric coupling, we will trigger the creation/annihilation of antiferromagnetic topological states in the very same devices. The overall objective is to create and manipulate topologically-protected nano-sized multiferroic states in functional devices.