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Magnetic Ordering-Induced Multiferroic Behavior in [CH3NH3][Co(HCOO)3] Metal-Organic Framework
L Claudia Gómez-Aguirre1, Breogán Pato-Doldán1, J Mira2
1Department of Fundamental Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of A Coruña , 15071 A Coruña, Spain.
Journal of the American Chemical Society
|December 31, 2015
Summary
We discovered multiferroic behavior in a metal-organic framework magnet. This spin canted antiferromagnet exhibits coupled magnetic and electric properties, showing memory effects under magnetic fields.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Solid State Physics
- Chemistry
Background:
- Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) offer tunable structures for novel properties.
- Multiferroic materials exhibit coupled magnetic and electric ordering.
- Investigating MOFs for multiferroic behavior is an emerging research area.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report the first instance of magnetic ordering-induced multiferroic behavior in a MOF.
- To characterize the magnetic and electric properties of [CH3NH3][Co(HCOO)3].
- To elucidate the mechanism behind the observed multiferroic coupling.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis and structural analysis of the [CH3NH3][Co(HCOO)3] compound.
- Magnetic susceptibility and magnetization measurements.
- Electric polarization measurements under applied magnetic fields.
Main Results:
- The compound [CH3NH3][Co(HCOO)3] exhibits multiferroic behavior below 15.9 K.
- Magnetic ordering is spin canted antiferromagnetic with a weak ferromagnetic component due to Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya (DM) interactions.
- Coupled magnetic and electric switching observed along specific crystallographic directions, with an unusual electric polarization memory effect.
Conclusions:
- The metal-organic framework [CH3NH3][Co(HCOO)3] is a novel multiferroic material.
- The observed multiferroic behavior is attributed to an inverse-DM mechanism.
- The findings open new avenues for MOF-based multiferroic applications.
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