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Orientational Transition in a Liquid Crystal Triggered by the Thermodynamic Growth of Interfacial Wetting Sheets
Published on: May 15, 2017
Interlayer Sliding Induced Triferroic Coupling in 2D Bilayer NbSi2N4
Yue Yang1, Ying Zhao1, Fanhan Kong1
1Key Laboratory of Materials Modification by Laser, Ion and Electron Beams (Ministry of Education), Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China.
Abstract:
Interlayer sliding symmetry breaking presents a powerful technique for achieving intrinsic multiferroic coupling among magnetism, ferroelectricity, and valley polarization, thereby establishing a new paradigm for the design of multifunctional devices. First-principles calculations unveil multiferroic coupling in 2D NbSi2N4. The monolayer exhibits a ferromagnetic ground state, where valley polarization is tuned by magnetic moment reversal. The energetically stable AB/BA-stacked bilayer hosts coexisting triferroic orders: antiferromagnetism, ferrovalley, and out-of-plane ferroelectricity. The interlayer-sliding-induced AB to BA transition enables non-volatile ferroelectric bistability via polarization reversal. The magneto-optic Kerr effect (MOKE) confirms magnetoelectric coupling between sliding ferroelectricity and antiferromagnetism. Valley polarization reversal is achieved by electric-field-driven polarization switching or magnetic-field-controlled magnetization direction flipping, inducing a significant stacking-dependent anomalous valley Hall effect (AVHE) and spin currents. This establishes NbSi2N4 as an ideal platform for novel non-volatile memory and spin-valleytronic devices.
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