Growth of ferroic metal oxide films with desired properties by polymer-assisted deposition

One of the challenges in chemical solution-based processes for ferroic metal oxide films has been the growth of high-quality epitaxial films with desired physical properties. Here we review the efforts to use polymer-assisted deposition (PAD) for the growth of epitaxial ferroic metal oxide films with desired physical properties. Using epitaxial ferroelectric and ferromagnetic materials as model systems, the process, microstructures, and physical properties of such epitaxial films grown by PAD are elaborated.