Abstract
Multiferroics materials, which exhibit coupled magnetic and ferroelectric properties, have attracted tremendous research interest because of their potential in constructing next-generation multifunctional devices. The application of single-phase multiferroics is currently limited by their usually small magnetoelectric effects. Here, we report the realization of giant magnetoelectric effects in a Y-type hexaferrite Ba0.4Sr1.6Mg2Fe12O22 single crystal, which exhibits record-breaking direct and converse magnetoelectric coefficients and a large electric-field-reversed magnetization. We have uncovered the origin of the giant magnetoelectric effects by a systematic study in the Ba2-x Sr x Mg2Fe12O22 family with magnetization, ferroelectricity and neutron diffraction measurements. With the transverse spin cone symmetry restricted to be two-fold, the one-step sharp magnetization reversal is realized and giant magnetoelectric coefficients are achieved. Our study reveals that tuning magnetic symmetry is an effective route to enhance the magnetoelectric effects also in multiferroic hexaferrites.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 519 |
Journal | Nature Communications |
Volume | 8 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Dec 1 2017 |
Funding
This work was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (Grant No. 2016YFA0300700) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 11534015, 11374347 and 11675255). Y.S. also acknowledges the support from Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grants No. XDB07030200 and KJZD-EW-M05). The work (Y.W., W.T. and H.C.) at ORNL’s High Flux Isotope Reactor was sponsored by the Scientific User Facilities Division, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, the US Department of Energy.