A Comparative Review of Structural, Electrical, and Magnetic Properties of Bulk Versus thin Film Functional Oxide Materials

Functional oxide materials have garnered significant research attention owing to their adjustable structural, electrical, and magnetic characteristics, rendering them suitable for diverse applications such as microelectronics, memory storage, spintronics, sensors, and energy devices. These characteristics are significantly influenced by the morphology and dimensionality of the material, particularly regarding whether the oxide is in bulk or thin film form. This paper thoroughly examines and contrasts the structure–property correlations in both bulk and thin film functional oxides, focussing specifically on perovskite, spinel, and columbite-type materials. Significant distinctions in crystallographic orientation, grain boundaries, phase purity, defect density, and anisotropic phenomena are examined concerning their impact on dielectric properties, electrical conductivity, ferroelectric behaviour, and magnetic characteristics. The examination includes synthesis procedures, characterisation tools, and application relevance. This study seeks to elucidate design options for enhancing performance via morphology management, hence informing the future advancement of oxide-based electrical and magnetic devices.