Unveiling hidden ferrimagnetism and giant magnetoelectricity in polar magnet Fe2Mo3O8

Abstract

Magnetoelectric (ME) effect is recognized for its utility for low-power electronic devices. Largest ME coefficients are often associated with phase transitions in which ferroelectricity is induced by magnetic order. Unfortunately, in these systems, large ME response is revealed only upon elaborate poling procedures. These procedures may become unnecessary in single-polar-domain crystals of polar magnets. Here we report giant ME effects in a polar magnet Fe2Mo3O8 at temperatures as high as 60 K. Polarization jumps of 0.3 μC/cm2, and repeated mutual control of ferroelectric and magnetic moments with differential ME coefficients on the order of 104 ps/m are achieved. Importantly, no electric or magnetic poling is needed, as necessary for applications. The sign of the ME coefficients can be switched by changing the applied “bias” magnetic field. The observed effects are associated with a hidden ferrimagnetic order unveiled by application of a magnetic field.

Giant magnetoelectric effects achieved by tuning spin cone symmetry in Y-type hexaferrites

“…Recently, a number of multiferroics such as Ni 3 TeO 6 ( α H  = 1300 psm −1 ) 14 , and Fe 2 Mo 3 O 8 ( α H  = 9000 psm −1 ) 15 , high-pressure phase of GdMnO 3 , DyMnO 3 and TbMnO 3 ( α H ~ 3000–9000 psm −1 ) 16 , GdMn 2 O 5 ( α H ~ 9000 psm −1 ) 17 show strong ME effects. However, large magnetic fields (a few teslas) are needed to induce a large change of P in these compounds.…”

Ordered aeschynite-type polar magnets RFeWO6 ( R=Dy , Eu, Tb, and Y): A new family of type-II multiferroics

“…Thus, the polar magnets having their origin at the same source can form a subclass of type-II multiferroics. For example, the polar compounds M 2 Mo 3 O 8 (M = Fe and Mn), which crystallize in hexagonal structure with space group P6 3 mc, display electric polarization below magnetic ordering temperatures [8][9][10]. The interesting and promising feature of these compounds is the observation of a large linear magnetoelectric effect.…”

Visualizing anisotropic propagation of stripe domain walls in staircaselike transitions ofIrTe2

“…Many of today's functionalities such as conductivity switching in correlated materials, magnetization/polarization switching in multiferroic, ferroelectric and pyroelectric materials, 1 and the switching between non-polarized and spin-polarized bands in strongly spin-orbit-coupled materials, 2 are associated with the presence of solid-solid phase transition (SSPT) between different crystalline structures. Understanding the atomistic details of the underlying mechanisms that occur during SSPTs at a level beyond the existing knowledge based on the classifications of phase transitions, e.g.…”