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Visualizing Uniaxial-strain Manipulation of Antiferromagnetic Domains in Fe1+YTe Using a Spin-polarized Scanning Tunneling Microscope
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Displacive-type ferroelectricity from magnetic correlations within spin-chain
Tathamay Basu1, V V Ravi Kishore2, Smita Gohil1
1Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Homi Bhabha Road, Colaba, Mumbai-400005, India.
Scientific Reports
|July 10, 2014
Summary
Ferroelectricity was observed in a magnetic material above its magnetic ordering temperature, driven by short-range magnetic correlations. This discovery opens new avenues for designing room-temperature ferroelectric materials.
Area of Science:
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Materials Science
- Magnetism
Background:
- Ferroelectricity in non-d(0) systems challenges previous understandings.
- Magnetically induced ferroelectricity is an active area of research.
- Short-range magnetic correlations are increasingly recognized for their influence on material properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate magnetoelectric coupling in the Haldane spin-chain compound Er2BaNiO5.
- To explore the mechanism of ferroelectricity in a system with magnetic ions.
- To identify potential routes for discovering room-temperature ferroelectric materials.
Main Methods:
- Experimental demonstration of magnetoelectric coupling.
- Temperature-dependent Raman spectroscopy.
- Temperature-dependent X-ray diffraction (XRD).
- Density-functional theory (DFT) calculations.
Main Results:
- Magnetoelectric coupling was observed in Er2BaNiO5 well above its Néel temperature (32 K).
- Electric polarization emerged near 60 K, coinciding with short-range magnetic correlations.
- Raman studies showed phonon mode softening, and XRD revealed lattice anomalies in the same temperature range.
- DFT calculations identified a displacive component in the NiO6 chain as the origin of ferroelectricity.
Conclusions:
- Short-range magnetic correlations can induce displacive ferroelectricity in non-d(0) systems.
- Er2BaNiO5 exhibits magnetoelectric coupling above its magnetic ordering temperature.
- The findings suggest a new strategy for designing room-temperature ferroelectric materials.
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