Physicists Create First-Ever multiferroic Liquids,Bridging the Gap Between Solid-State and Fluidic Materials
A groundbreaking revelation by researchers at Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg has yielded a new class of materials – multiferroic liquids – possessing both ferromagnetic and ferroelectric properties in a liquid state. This achievement, published on July 26, 2025, in Advanced Materials, marks the first time these characteristics have been observed simultaneously in a liquid, previously confined to solid crystals.
Multiferroic materials are unique due to their dual functionality. They exhibit ferromagnetism,meaning they can be magnetized and retain that magnetization without an external field,and ferroelectricity,allowing them to store electrical charge like a miniature,permanent capacitor. Traditionally, achieving this combination relied on the ordered structures of solid crystals. The inherent disorder of liquids made it seem an impossibility – until now.
The research team, led by Dr. Hajnalka Nádasi and Prof. Alexey Eremin from the Department of Nonlinear Phenomena, overcame this challenge by engineering hybrid materials. These consist of ferroelectric nematic liquid crystals combined with ferrimagnetic nanoplatelets composed of barium hexaferrite. Through precise compositional control, they created a stable liquid exhibiting both electrical and magnetic order at room temperature.
“It was long considered almost impossible for stable magnetic and electrical states to form simultaneously in a liquid system,” stated Dr. Nádasi. This breakthrough opens doors to a range of potential applications.
the newly developed liquids demonstrate a heightened sensitivity to external magnetic and electric fields, making them ideal candidates for advanced sensors and actuators – materials that respond to stimuli with movement. Furthermore, they hold promise for innovations in electro-optical and magneto-optical technologies.
The potential for energy efficiency is notably noteworthy. “Because liquid crystal-based systems require very little energy, they could contribute to more energy-efficient materials and components in the future,” Dr. Nádasi explained. This could lead to significant advancements in reducing energy consumption across various industries.
The collaborative project involved researchers from the Jožef Stefan Institute in Ljubljana (Slovenia), the Technical University of Braunschweig, and Merck Electronics KGaA in Darmstadt. The research is also integrated into the Master and Bachelor in Physics of Soft Materials initiative, a joint program between Merck and the University of Magdeburg, providing students with hands-on experience in cutting-edge materials science.
This discovery represents a significant leap forward in materials science, potentially reshaping the landscape of sensor technology, energy efficiency, and beyond.
Why: Researchers sought to combine the properties of ferromagnetism and ferroelectricity, traditionally found only in solid crystals, into a liquid material. This was considered a significant challenge due to the inherent disorder of liquids.
Who: The research was led by Dr. Hajnalka Nádasi and Prof. Alexey Eremin from the Department of Nonlinear phenomena at Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg. The project involved collaboration with the Jožef Stefan Institute, the Technical University of Braunschweig, and merck Electronics KGaA.
What: The team created the first-ever multiferroic liquids by combining ferroelectric nematic liquid crystals with ferrimagnetic nanoplatelets of barium hexaferrite. These liquids exhibit both ferromagnetic and ferroelectric properties at room temperature.
**How did it end?:
