Large linear magnetoelectric effect and field-induced ferromagnetism and ferroelectricity in DyCrO₄

All the magnetoelectric properties of scheelite-type DyCrO₄ are characterized by temperature- and field-dependent magnetization, specific heat, permittivity, electric polarization, and neutron diffraction measurements. Upon application of a magnetic field within ±3 T, the nonpolar collinear antiferromagnetic structure leads to a large linear magnetoelectric effect with a considerable coupling coefficient. An applied electric field can induce the converse linear magnetoelectric effect, realizing magnetic field control of ferroelectricity and electric field control of magnetism. Furthermore, a higher magnetic field (>3 T) can cause a metamagnetic transition from the initially collinear antiferromagnetic structure to a canted structure, generating a large ferromagnetic magnetization up to 7.0 μ_B f.u.⁻¹. Moreover, the new spin structure can break the space inversion symmetry, yielding ferroelectric polarization, which leads to coupling of ferromagnetism and ferroelectricity with a large ferromagnetic component.