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Published on: August 15, 2018
Chiral Altermagnetic Magnetoelectrics
Chengwu Xie1,2, Weizhen Meng3, Zhenzhou Guo1
1Institute for Superconducting and Electronic Materials, Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia.
Advanced Materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
|July 28, 2026
Summary
We introduce chiral altermagnetic magnetoelectrics, a new class of materials. The metal-organic framework K[Co(HCOO)3] shows chirality-locked spin splitting and switchable electric polarization for spintronics.
Area of Science:
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Materials Science
- Chemistry
Background:
- Altermagnetic systems offer unique spin properties.
- Magnetoelectric effects are crucial for spintronics.
- Chirality in materials can lead to novel functionalities.
Purpose of the Study:
- Introduce a new class of chiral altermagnetic magnetoelectrics.
- Identify K[Co(HCOO)3] as a promising material platform.
- Investigate chirality-locked spin splitting and dual-mode electric polarization control.
Main Methods:
- Theoretical analysis of chiral altermagnetic systems.
- Experimental characterization of K[Co(HCOO)3].
- Investigation of Néel-vector reorientation and structural chirality effects.
Main Results:
- K[Co(HCOO)3] exhibits chirality-locked g-wave altermagnetic spin splitting.
- Dual-mode switchable electric polarization controlled by Néel-vector and chirality.
- Néel-vector reorientation and chirality switching independently modulate electric polarization sign.
- Electronic and optical responses serve as readout channels.
Conclusions:
- Chiral altermagnetic magnetoelectrics represent a novel material class.
- K[Co(HCOO)3] is a viable platform for multifunctional spintronics.
- Chirality and Néel-vector control enable nonvolatile spintronic devices.
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