Review on recent developments in the ferroelectric material SrMnO3

Strontium manganese oxide (SrMnO₃), a perovskite multifunctional oxide material, has emerged as an ideal candidate for next-generation memory devices and energy conversion systems owing to its unique ferroelectricity, antiferromagnetism, and magnetoelectric coupling effect. SrMnO₃ films show great potential for ferroelectric memories (e.g., Fe random-access memory) and energy storage devices (e.g., capacitors and lithium-ion batteries). In recent years, with the development of advanced film preparation technologies and characterization methods, considerable progress has been made in the preparation and structural regulation of SrMnO₃ films, as well as in understanding their physical properties and functional applications. Studies have shown that the ferroelectric, magnetic, and electrical properties can be significantly improved by regulating the thickness, stress state, and doping of the film. This paper systematically reviews the research status of bulk SrMnO₃ and SrMnO₃ thin films, including preparation technologies and optimization strategies, focusing on their structure, ferroelectricity, magnetism, and electrical transport properties. In addition, the influence of doping and interface engineering on film performance and the application potential of SrMnO₃ thin films in energy storage devices and ferroelectric memories have been analyzed. Based on the results, we summarize the current research breakthroughs in SrMnO₃ thin films, highlight the persisting challenges associated with practical applications, and outline possible research directions for the future.