Research topics and projects
Facilities and main collaborators
Publications and dissertations
Go to
Go to
Go to

Research

Exploring functional oxides for advanced applications and technologies

Ferroelectric Materials

  • Engineering ferroelectric-ferroelastic domain patterns in PbTiO3 films through epitaxial strain engineering. The figure shows the domain pattern of PbTiO3 films grown on SmScO3.

  • Studying polar topologies in SrTiO3/PbTiO3 superlattices.

  • Exploring the electrical properties of hafnia-based epitaxial oxides.

Electrically Dynamic Thermal Transport

Studying the possibility to modulate the thermal conductivity of epitaxial oxides with an electric field to engineer a solid-state structure that can allow (bit 1) or inhibit (bit 0) the thermal transport at will. The goal is to create a binary thermal/phononic memory to boost an emerging technology to store and process information using thermal currents/phonons.

  • Using ferroelectric domain walls as electrically active phonon scattering centers.

  • Using oxygen vacancies as electrically active phonon scattering centers.

The figure shows the electric-field dependence of the thermal conductivity of ferroelectric hafnia-based epitaxial film.

Multiferroics

Examining multiferroic materials/composites with strong magnetoelectric coupling for next-generation electronic devices.

  • Intrinsic in epitaxial Sr1-xBaxMnO3 thin films. Playing with Ba-content and epitaxial strain. The figure shows the X-ray diffraction pattern of strained SrMnO3 films.

  • Heterostructures formed by magnetic/ferroelectric oxides, such as SrMnO3/PbTiO3.

Funded projects in competitive calls

1. Project: Engineering Electrically-controlled Phononic Bits in Epitaxial Films and Superlattices based on Ferroelectric Oxides (e-PHONONBIT). PI: E. Langenberg. University of Barcelona. Funding body: Spanish Government. Call Ref.: PID2021-128281NA-I00. Period: 2022 – 2026.

2. Project: Engineering Solid-State Device to Reversibly Switching ON/OFF the Magnetization with an Electric Field. PI: E. Langenberg. University of Barcelona. Funding body: Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (U. Barcelona). Call Ref.: ART 2021. Period: 2022 – 2023.

Facilities

We share a pulsed laser deposition system with Manuel Varela (mvarela@ub.edu) at the Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology of the University of Barcelona.

At the Scientific and Technologica Center of the University of Barcelona we have access to X-ray diffraction system, atomic force microscopy, and aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy.

At the Faculty of Physics of the University of Barcelona we have access to clean room facility for deposition of metal electrodes through standard photolithography procedures.

Main collaborators

  • Darrell G. Schlom (schlom@cornell.edu). Cornell University. Oxide molecular beam epitaxy.

  • Francisco Rivadulla (f.rivadulla@usc.es). CiQUS-U. Santiago de Compostela. Frequency domain thermoreflectance.

  • José Ángel Pardo (jpardo@unizar.es). INMA-U. Zaragoza. Ferroelectric tester.

  • Neus Domingo (ndomingo@ornl.gov), Oak Ridge National Lab; Gustau Catalan (gustau.catalan@icn2.cat), Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology; Jordi Sort (jordi.sort@uab.cat), Autonomous U. Barcelona. Piezoresponse force microscopy.

  • Riccardo Rurali (rrurali@icmab.es). Institute of Materials Science of Barcelona. Ab initio calculations.

  • Xavier Batlle (xavierbatlle@ub.edu), Arantxa Fraile (arantxa.fraile@ub.edu), Adriana Figueroa (aifigueroa@ub.edu). Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology of the U. Barcelona. X-ray magnetic circular dichroism.

  • César Magén (cmagend@unizar.es). INMA-U. Zaragoza. Scanning transmission electron microscopy.

Publications

  • D. Barneo, R. Ramos, H. Romero, V. Leborán, N. Varela-Domínguez, J. A. Pardo, F. Rivadulla, E. Langenberg. The coupling of polarization and oxygen vacancy migration in ferroelectric Hf0.5Zr0.5O2 thin films enable electrically controlled thermal memories above room temperature. ArXiv 2025, 2501.06005. https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2501.06005.

  • E. Barriuso, R. Jiménez, E. Langenberg, P. Koutsogiannis, A. Larrea, M. Varela, C. Magén, P. A. Algarabel, M. Algueró, J. A. Pardo. Epitaxy-Driven Ferroelectric/Non-Ferroelectric Polymorph Selection in an All-Fluorite System. Adv. Elect. Materials 2024, 2300522.

  • D. Bugallo, E. Langenberg, E. Carbó-Argibay, N. Varela Domínguez, A. O. Fumega, V. Pardo, I. Lucas, L. Morellón, F. Rivadulla. Tuning coherent-phonon heat transport in LaCoO3/SrTiO3 superlattices. J. Phys. Chem. Lett. 2021, 12, 11878 – 11885.

  • D. Bugallo, E. Langenberg*, E. Ferreiro-Vila, E. H. Smith, C. Stefani, X. Batlle, G. Catalan, N. Domingo, D. G. Schlom, F. Rivadulla. Deconvolution of phonon scattering by ferroelectric domain walls and point defects in a PbTiO3 film deposited in a composition-spread geometry. ACS Appl. Mater. Interf. 2021, 13, 45679 – 45685.

  • C. Stefani, E. Langenberg, K. Cordero-Edwards, D.G. Schlom, G. Catalan, N. Domingo. Mechanical reading of ferroelectric polarization. J. Appl. Phys. 2021, 130, 074103.

  • E. Langenberg*, L. Maurel, G. Antorrena, P. A. Algarabel, C. Magén, J. A. Pardo. Relaxation Mechanisms and Strain-Controlled Oxygen Vacancies in Epitaxial SrMnO3 Films. ACS Omega. 2021, 6, 13144 – 13152.

  • C. Stefani, L. Ponet, K. Shapavalov, P. Chen, E. Langenberg, D. G. Schlom, S. Artyukhin, M. Stengel, N. Domingo, G. Catalan. Mechanical softness of ferroelectric 180° domain walls. Phys. Rev. X. 2020, 10, 041991.

  • E. Padgett, M. E. Holtz, P. Cueva, Y.-T. Shao, E. Langenberg, D. G. Schlom, D. A. Muller. The exit-wave power-cepstrum transform for scanning nanobeam electron diffraction: robust strain mapping at subnanometer resolution and subpicometer precision. Ultramicroscopy 2020, 214, 112994.

  • E. Langenberg*, H. Paik, E. H. Smith, H. P. Nair, I. Hanke, S. Ganschow, G. Catalan, N. Domingo, D. G. Schlom. Strain-engineered ferroelastic structures in PbTiO3 films and their control by electric fields. ACS Appl. Mater. Interf. 2020, 12, 20691 – 20703.

  • E. Langenberg*, D. Saha, M. E. Holtz, J.-J. Wang, D. Bugallo, E. Ferreiro-Vila, H. Paik, I. Hanke, S. Ganschow, D. A. Muller, L.-Q. Chen, G. Catalan, N. Domingo, J. Malen, D. G. Schlom*, F. Rivadulla*. Ferroelectric domain walls in PbTiO3 are effective regulators of heat flow at room temperature. Nano Lett. 2019, 19, 7901 – 7907.

  • L. Maurel, N. Marcano, E. Langenberg, R. Guzmán, T. Prokscha, C. Magén, J. A. Pardo, P. A. Algarabel. Engineering the magnetic order in epitaxially strained Sr1-xBaxMnO3 perovskite thin films. APL Mater. 2019, 7, 041117.

  • L. Torrejón, E. Langenberg, C. Magén, Á. Larrea, J. Blasco, J. Santiso, P. A. Algarabel, J. A. Pardo. Growth and structural characterization of strained epitaxial Hf0.5Zr0.5O2 thin films. Phys. Rev Materials 2018, 2, 013401.

  • E. Langenberg*, L. Maurel, N. Marcano, R. Guzmán, P. Štrichovanec, T. Palstra, C. Magén, P. A. Algarabel, J. A. Pardo. Controlling the electrical and magnetoelectric properties of epitaxially strained Sr1-xBaxMnO3 thin films.Adv. Mater. Interf. 2017, 4, 1601040.

  • V. Goian, E. Langenberg*, N. Marcano, V. Bovtun, L. Maurel, M. Kempa, T. Prokscha, J. Kroupa, P. A. Algarabel, J. A. Pardo, S. Kamba. Spin-phonon coupling in epitaxial Sr0.6Ba0.4MnO3 thin films. Phys. Rev. B. 2017, 95, 075126.

  • L. E. Coy, I. Fina, J. Ventura, L. Yate, E. Langenberg, M. C. Polo, C. Ferrater, M. Varela. Dielectric characterization of multiferroic magnetoelectric double-perovskite Y(Ni0.5Mn0.5)O3 thin films. Appl. Phys. Lett.2016, 109, 152901.

  • E. Langenberg, E. Ferreiro-Vila, V. Leborán, A. O. Fumega, V. Pardo, F. Rivadulala. Analysis of the temperatura dependence of the termal conductivity of insulating singl crystal oxides. APL Materials 2016, 4, 104815.

  • J. Schaab, I. P. Krug, H. Doganay, J. Hackl, D. M. Gottlob, M. I. Khan, S. Nemsák, L. Maurel, E. Langenberg, P. A. Algarabel, J. A. Pardo, C. M. Schneider, D. Meier. Contact-Free Mapping of Electronic Transport Phenomena of Polar Domains in SrMnO3 Films. Phys. Rev. Applied 2016, 5, 054009.

  • R. Guzmán, L. Maurel, E. Langenberg, A. R. Lupini, P. A. Algarabel, J. A. Pardo, C. Magén. Polar-Graded Multiferroic SrMnO3 Thin Films. Nano Lett. 2016, 16, 2221 – 2227.

  • E. Langenberg*, R. Guzmán, L. Maurel, L. Martínez de Baños, L. Morellón, M. R. Ibarra, J. Herrero-Martín, J. Blasco, C. Magén, P. A. Algarabel, J. A. Pardo. Epitaxial stabilization of the perovskite phase in (Sr1-xBax)MnO3thin films. ACS Appl. Mater. Interf. 2015, 7, 23967 – 23977.

  • C. Becher, L. Maurel, U. Aschauer, M. Lilienblum, C. Magén, D. Meier, E. Langenberg, M. Trassin, J. Blasco, I. P. Krug, P. A. Algarabel, N. A. Spaldin, J. A. Pardo, M. Fiebig*. Strain-induced coupling of electrical polarization and structural defects in SrMnO3 films. Nature Nanotech. 2015, 10, 661 – 665.

  • L. Maurel, N. Marcano, T. Prokscha, E. Langenberg, J. Blasco, R. Guzmán, A. Suter, C. Magén, L. Morellón, M. R. Ibarra, J. A. Pardo, P. A. Algarabel. Nature of antiferromagnetic order in epitaxially strained multiferoic SrMnO3thin films. Phys. Rev. B 2015, 92, 024419.

  • L. E. Coy, J. Rebled, J. Ventura, L. Yate, C. Ferrater, E. Langenberg, M. C. Polo, E. Xuriguera, F. Peiró, M. Varela. Crystalline domains in epitaxial Y(Ni0.5Mn0.5)O3 thin films grown by PLD on different STO substrates. Appl. Surface Science 2015, 324, 114 – 122.

  • R. Schmidt, E. Langenberg, J. Ventura, M. Varela. Bi containing multiferroic perovskite oxide thin films. Book chapter in Perovskite: Crystallography, Chemistry and Catalytic Performance. Nova Science Publishers, Inc., Hauppage, NY, USA 2013. ISBN: 978-1-62417-800-9.

  • E. Langenberg*, I. Fina, J. Ventura, B. Noheda, M. Varela, J. Fontcuberta. Dielectric properties of (Bi0.9La0.1)2NiMnO6 thin films: Determining the intrinsic electric and magnetoelectric response. Phys. Rev. B 2012, 86, 085108.

  • R. Schmidt, J. Ventura, E. Langenberg, N. M. Nemes, C. Munuera, M. Varela, M. García-Hernández, C. León, J. Santamaría. Magnetoimpedance spectroscopy of epitaxial multiferroic thin films. Phys. Rev. B 2012, 86, 035113.

  • E. Langenberg*, I. Fina, P. Gemeiner, B. Dkhil, L. Fàbrega, M. Varela. Ferroelectric phase transition in strsinrf multiferroic (Bi0.9La0.1)2NiMnO6 thin films. Appl. Phys. Lett. 2012, 100, 022902.

  • I. Fina, L. Fàbrega, E. Langenberg, X. Martí, F. Sánchez, M. Varela, J. Fontcuberta. Nonferroelectric contributions to the hysteresis cycles in manganite thin films: A comparative study of measurement techniques. J. Appl. Phys. 2011, 109, 074105.

  • E. Langenberg*, J. Rebled, S. Estradé, C. J. M. Daumont, J. Ventura, L. E. Coy, M. C. Polo, M. V. García-Cuenca, C. Ferrater, B. Noheda, F. Peiró, M. Varela, J. Fontcuberta. Long-range order of Ni2+ and Mn4+ and ferromagnetism in multiferroic (Bi0.9La0.1)2NiMnO6 thin films. J. Appl. Phys. 2010, 108, 123907.

  • J. Ventura, I. Fina, C. Ferrater, E. Langenberg, L. E. Coy, M. C. Polo, M. V. García-Cuenca, L. Fàbrega, M. Varela. Structural and dielectric properties of (001) and (111)-oriented BaZr0.2Ti0.8O3 epitaxial thin films. Thin Solid Films 2010, 518, 4692 – 4695.

  • L. E. Coy, J. Ventura, C. Ferrater, E. Langenberg, M. C. Polo, M. V. García-Cuenca, M. Varela. Synthesis and characterization of platinum thin films as top electrodes for multifunctional layers devices by PLD. Thin Solid Films 2010, 518, 4705 – 4709.

  • S. Nazarpour, A. Cirera, C. Ferrater, J. Ventura, E. Langenberg, O. Jambois, M. C. Polo, M. V. García-Cuenca, M. Varela. An Investigation on Solid State Reactions in Heat Treted Au/Pd Thin Films for Electrodes Applications. J. Nanoscience and Nanotechnology 2010, 10, 2635 ­– 2640.

  • E. Langenberg, M. Varela, M. V. García-Cuenca, C. Ferrater, M. C. Polo, I. Fina, L. Fàbrega, F. Sánchez, J. Fontcuberta. Epitaxial thin films of (Bi0.9La0.1)2NiMnO6 obtained by pulsed laser deposition. J. Magnetism and Magnetic Materials 2009, 321, 1748 – 1753.

  • S. Nazrpour, E. Langenberg, O. Jambois, C. Ferrater, M. V. García-Cuenca, M. C. Polo, M. Varela. Electric conductivity dependence of thin metalllic films of Au and Pd as top electrode in capacitor applications. Appl. Surface Science 2009, 225, 3618 – 3622.

  • E. Langenberg*, M. Varela, M. V. García-Cuenca, C. Ferrater, F. Sánchez, J. Fontcuberta. Thin films in ternari Bi – Mn – O system obtained by pulsed laser deposition. Materials Science and Engineering B 2007, 144, 138 – 142.

Supervision of phd thesis, master thesis, and end-of-degree projects

  • PhD Student: Dídac Barneo. Ongoing (2024 – 2028). Title: Engineering Voltage-controlled Binary Thermal Memories using Ferroelectric- based Epitaxial Oxide Films and Superlattices. University of Barcelona. Doctorate program: Nanoscience. PhD Supervisors: Eric Langenberg.

  • PhD Student: David Bugallo Ferrón. Date of defense: 02/07/2021. Title: Thermal Conductivity of Superlattices and Ferroelectric Thin Films. Effect of Boundary Sizes and Vacancies. University of Santiago de Compostela. Doctorate program: Materials Science. PhD Supervisors: Eric Langenberg and Francisco Rivadulla.

PhD thesis.
Master thesis.

  • Student: María Teresa López Carrasco. Date of defense: 11/07/2023. Title: Towards the Dynamic Tuning of the Thermal Conductivity in Epitaxial PbTiO3 films. University of Barcelona. Master program: Nanoscience and Nanotechnology. Supervisors: Eric Langenberg.

  • Student: Xavier Bernad Paretas. Date of defense: 14/07/2023. Title: Tuning the magnetic properties of strained SrMnO3 epitaxial thin films. University of Barcelona. Master program: Nanoscience and Nanotechnology. Supervisors: Adriana Figueroa and Eric Langenberg.

  • Student: Marc Galera Muñoz. Date of defense: 10/09/2021. Title: Optimization of growth parameters of thin-film strain-engineered SrRuO3. University of Barcelona. Master program: Nanoscience and Nanotechnology. Supervisors: Xavier Batlle and Eric Langenberg.

End-of-degree project

  • Student: Tomàs Cabezas Roura. Date of defense: 2022. Title: Optimization of the epitaxial growth of ferroelectric PbTiO3 thin fillms. University of Barcelona. Bachelor's degree: Physics. Supervisors: Eric Langenberg.

  • Student: Daniel Bouman. Date of defense: 2017. Title: Design anf Manipulation of Ferroelectric Domains in BaTiO3 thin films.

    Cornell University. Program: Research Experiences for Undergraduates program funded by National Science Foundation. Supervisors: Eric Langenberg.

  • Student: José Luis Corral. Date of defense: 2016. Title: Preparation and structural and electrical characterization of ultra-thin polycrystalline films of Hf0.5Zr0.5O2. University of Zaragoza. Bachelor's degree: Electronic Engineering. Supervisors: Eric Langenberg and José Ángel Pardo.

  • Student: Fernando Bustos. Date of defense: 2016. Title: Growth and characterization of epitaxial Hf0.5Zr0.5O2 thin film. University of Zaragoza. Bachelor's degree: Industry Technology Engineering. Supervisors: Eric Langenberg and José Ángel Pardo.

  • Student: Elvira Navarro. Date of defense: 2014. Title: Heating perovskite catalysis using microwave radiation. University of Zaragoza. Bachelor's degree: Chemical Engineering. Supervisors: Eric Langenberg and Relles Mallada.

© 2025. All rights reserved.