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Updated: Aug 5, 2026
09:06
Visualizing Uniaxial-strain Manipulation of Antiferromagnetic Domains in Fe1+YTe Using a Spin-polarized Scanning Tunneling Microscope
Published on: March 24, 2019
Non-Volatile Electric-Field Toggling Between Antiferromagnetic States
Amr Abdelsamie1, Noela Rezi1, Arthur Chaudron1
1Laboratoire Albert Fert, CNRS, Thales, Université Paris-Saclay, Palaiseau 91767, France.
ACS Nano
|July 27, 2026
Summary
Researchers demonstrated a reversible, electric-field-controlled magnetic phase transition in bismuth ferrite (BiFeO3) at room temperature. This breakthrough enables electric-field control of magnetism for energy-efficient spintronics.
Area of Science:
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Magnetoelectric multiferroics offer electric-field control of magnetism for spintronics.
- Bismuth ferrite (BiFeO3) is a room-temperature antiferromagnetic ferroelectric with a cycloidal magnetic order.
- Epitaxial strain influences BiFeO3's magnetic ordering.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate a reversible, nonvolatile, electric-field-triggered magnetic phase transition in BiFeO3.
- To stabilize specific magnetic states using engineered substrates.
- To provide insights for developing energy-efficient spintronic devices.
Main Methods:
- Epitaxial growth of BiFeO3 thin films on SrTiO3 vicinal substrates.
- Stabilization of single ferroelectric and antiferromagnetic domains.
- Electric-field manipulation of ferroelectric polarization.
- Scanning nitrogen vacancy (NV) magnetometry for direct magnetic visualization.
Main Results:
- Achieved reversible, nonvolatile magnetic phase transitions between cycloidal and collinear antiferromagnetic states.
- Demonstrated deterministic switching via electric-field reversal of ferroelectric polarization.
- Visualized the magnetic phase transition directly using NV magnetometry.
Conclusions:
- Electric-field control of distinct antiferromagnetic states in BiFeO3 is achievable at room temperature.
- This work paves the way for ultrafast, low-power spintronic applications.
- Understanding magnetoelectric coupling in BiFeO3 is crucial for future device development.
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