Magnetoelectric (ME) materials combine magnetic and electric polarizabilities in the same phase, offering a basis for developing high-density data storage and spintronic or low-consumption devices owing to the possibility of triggering one property with the other. Such applications require strong interaction between the constitutive properties, a criterion that is rarely met in classical inorganic ME materials at room temperature. We provide evidence of a strong ME coupling in a paramagnetic ferroelectric lanthanide coordination complex with magnetostrictive phenomenon. The properties of this molecular material suggest that it may be competitive with inorganic magnetoelectrics.

We report a complete study of the lattice dynamics, dielectric, elastic and piezoelectric properties of hexagonal semiconducting chromium disilicide (CrSi 2 ). From a combined experimental and theoretical study, we have revisited the phonon mode assignments at the zone-center, so that the contradictions met in previous experimental studies between 250 and 300 cm À1 are now explained and understood.We found that the temperature dependence of the Raman frequencies is mainly due to an implicit volume contribution and related to the large Grüneisen parameter. This explains why CrSi 2 has a moderate thermal conductivity although its Debye temperature is quite large. Optic and static dielectric constants have also been analyzed and discussed. The elastic constants of CrSi 2 are large, but this compound is quite brittle. In addition, the relatively low Poisson coefficient associated to the large negative Cauchy pressure of CrSi 2 indicate the angular nature of its bonding. The calculation of its piezoelectric coefficient shows a sizable value with a magnitude similar to that reported for a-quartz.