Unveiling hidden ferrimagnetism and giant magnetoelectricity in polar magnet Fe2Mo3O8

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

7-21-2015

Abstract

Magnetoelectric (ME) effect is recognized for its utility for low-power electronic devices. Largest ME coefficients are often associated with phase transitions in which ferroelectricity is induced by magnetic order. Unfortunately, in these systems, large ME response is revealed only upon elaborate poling procedures. These procedures may become unnecessary in single-polar-domain crystals of polar magnets. Here we report giant ME effects in a polar magnet Fe2Mo3O8 at temperatures as high as 60 K. Polarization jumps of 0.3 μC/cm2, and repeated mutual control of ferroelectric and magnetic moments with differential ME coefficients on the order of 104 ps/m are achieved. Importantly, no electric or magnetic poling is needed, as necessary for applications. The sign of the ME coefficients can be switched by changing the applied "bias" magnetic field. The observed effects are associated with a hidden ferrimagnetic order unveiled by application of a magnetic field.

Identifier

84937404985 (Scopus)

Publication Title

Scientific Reports

External Full Text Location

https://doi.org/10.1038/srep12268

e-ISSN

20452322

Volume

5

Grant

DMR-0923032

Fund Ref

U.S. Department of Energy

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