PhD Studentship - Stress Modulated Antiferromagnetism in a BiFeO3-based Thin Film

Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences EPSRC Project Proposals 2025/26 (jobs.ac.uk)

Project Link: Stress modulated antiferromagnetism in a BiFeO3-based thin film | Project Opportunities | PhD | University of Leeds

Eligibility: UK Only

Funding: School of Physics & Astronomy studentship providing full academic fees, together with a tax-free maintenance grant at the standard UKRI rate of £20,780 per year for 3.5 years.

Lead Supervisor’s full name & email address

Dr. Thomas Moore: t.a.moore@leeds.ac.uk

Co-supervisor’s full name & email address

Professor Andrew Bell: a.j.bell@leeds.ac.uk

Dr. Philippa Shepley: p.m.shepley@leeds.ac.uk

Project summary

In the challenge to develop new, high density logic and memory devices, the concept of employing electron spin transport as the data vector (i.e. spintronics) is of great interest due to the potential for very low energy consumption devices.

Antiferromagnetic materials play a pivotal role in many current and envisioned spintronic devices through the phenomenon of magnetic exchange bias at the interface between a ferromagnet and an antiferromagnet. This phenomenon allows such heterostuctures to act as spin-valves to control the conduction of electrons according to their spin. The ability to modulate the exchange bias, for example by switching the antiferromagnetism on and off, would be a valuable concept in spintronic device design.

The aim of this experimental PhD project is to investigate the phenomenon of pressure modulated antiferromagnetism, focusing on thin films of BiFeO3-PbTiO3 (BFPT) in order to assess its viability for spintronic devices. Piezoelectricity will be employed, both in selected substrates and in the BFPT itself, to provide the required stress/strain modulation in the material.

Please state your entry requirements plus any necessary or desired background

A first class or an upper second class British Bachelors Honours degree (or equivalent) in an appropriate discipline.

Subject area: Condensed matter physics, materials science

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