Magnetically-induced ferroelectricity in the (ND 4) 2 [FeCl 5 (D 2 O)] molecular compound

Rodríguez-Velamazán, J.A. ; Fabelo, O. ; Millán, Á. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Campo, J. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Johnson, R.D. ; Chapon, L.

Resumen: The number of magnetoelectric multiferroic materials reported to date is scarce, as magnetic structures that break inversion symmetry and induce an improper ferroelectric polarization typically arise through subtle competition between different magnetic interactions. The (NH 4) 2 FeCl 5 (H 2 O)] compound is a rare case where such improper ferroelectricity has been observed in a molecular material. We have used single crystal and powder neutron diffraction to obtain detailed solutions for the crystal and magnetic structures of (NH 4) 2 FeCl 5 (H 2 O)], from which we determined the mechanism of multiferroicity. From the crystal structure analysis, we observed an order-disorder phase transition related to the ordering of the ammonium counterion. We have determined the magnetic structure below T N, at 2 €‰K and zero magnetic field, which corresponds to a cycloidal spin arrangement with magnetic moments contained in the ac-plane, propagating parallel to the c-axis. The observed ferroelectricity can be explained, from the obtained magnetic structure, via the inverse Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya mechanism.

Idioma: Inglés

DOI: 10.1038/srep14475

Año: 2015

Publicado en: Scientific Reports 5 (2015), 14475 [14 pp.]
ISSN: 2045-2322

Factor impacto JCR: 5.228 (2015)

Categ. JCR: MULTIDISCIPLINARY SCIENCES rank: 7 / 62 = 0.113 (2015) - Q1 - T1

Factor impacto SCIMAGO: 2.034 - Multidisciplinary (Q1)

Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/MICINN/MAT2010-16981
Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/MICINN/MAT2011-27233-C02-02

Tipo y forma: Artículo (Versión definitiva)

Área (Departamento): Área Física Materia Condensada (Dpto. Física Materia Condensa.)