We demonstrate room temperature ferroelectricity in the epitaxial thin films of magnetoelectric gallium ferrite. Piezoforce measurements show a 180° phase shift of piezoresponse upon switching the electric field indicating nanoscale ferroelectricity in the thin films. Further, temperature-dependent impedance analysis with and without the presence of an external magnetic field clearly reveals a pronounced magnetodielectric effect across the magnetic transition temperature. In addition, our first principles calculations show that Fe ions are not only responsible for ferrimagnetism as observed earlier but also give rise to the observed ferroelectricity, making gallium ferrite a unique single phase multiferroic.

• Received 22 March 2013

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.111.087601