Linear magnetoelectrics: how to enhance the ME effects

Research interest in linear magnetoelectric (ME) effects istwo-folded. On one hand, it is more or less a compromisebetween enhancing the temperature of ME effect andrealizing spontaneous ME coupling, leading to re-attention to linear ME materials with volatile ME responsein spite of enhanced ME temperature. On the other hand,novel memristor unit can be developed using linear MEeffect, appealing for strong materials with satisfactoryperformance. In this talk, I am going to present our recentresults on a number of transition-metal oxides withvarious magnetoelectric response behaviors. In particular,the giant ME response over wide operating window inFe2Mo3O8 and others is demonstrated. While weunderstand the existence of major challenges inmultiferroic physics and materials, it is believed that linearME effect could be one of the most appreciatedmultiferroic consequences towards practical applications.