Numerical simulation of nonlinear magnetic-mechanical-electric coupling effect in laminated magnetoelectric composites

Considering the significant nonlinear magnetoelectric (ME) characteristics in laminated ME composites, we build a numerical model of magnetic-mechanical-electric coupling effect based on the nonlinear magnetostrictive constitutive relation. The change of the ME field coefficients with bias magnetic field predicted by this model shows good agreement with the experimental result, both qualitatively and quantitatively. Furthermore, this paper considers and predicts the magnetoelectric conversion charateristics of laminated ME composites, calculates and analyzes the influence of the thickness ratio of magnetostrictive layer, the geometrical size of laminated composites, the saturation magnetization, and the types of piezoelectric materials on the ME conversion coefficient of ME laminated composites. We believe that this research provides a theoretical basis for the production of magnetoelectric devices with good magnetoelectric conversion characteristics.     

Interfacial strain-mediated magnetoelectric coupling as reflected in extended X-ray absorption spectra of CoFe2O4-dispersed Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 matrix composites

An atomic-scale picture of the strain-mediated magnetoelectric (ME) coupling is delineated by carefully examining the effect of an applied electric field on the extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectra of a CoFe₂O₄-dispersed Pb(Zr,Ti)O₃ matrix (CFO-PZT) composite. These studies demonstrated a tensile-compressive strain relation between the PZT matrix and the dispersed CFO phase, thereby providing an X-ray spectroscopic evidence of the interfacial strain-mediated ME coupling. Both the dielectric anomaly observed at ∼480 °C and the decrease in the remanent magnetization under an applied electric field support the strain-mediated ME coupling in the CFO-PZT composite.     

Enhancing the magnetoelectric coupling of Co4Nb2O9[100] by substituting Mg for Co

We report experimental studies on enhancing the magnetoelectric (ME) coupling of Co₄Nb₂O₉ by substituting the non-magnetic metal Mg for Co. A series of single crystal Co_4−xMg_xNb₂O₉ (x = 0, 1, 2, 3) with a single-phase corundum-type structure are synthesized using the optical floating zone method, and the good quality and crystallographic orientations of the synthesized samples are confirmed by the Laue spots and sharp XRD peaks. Although the Néel temperatures (T_N) of the Mg substituted crystals decrease slightly from 27 K for pure Co₄Nb₂O₉ to 19 K and 11 K for Co₃MgNb₂O₉ and Co₂Mg₂Nb₂O₉, respectively, the ME coupling is doubly enhanced by Mg substitution when x = 1. The ME coefficient α_ME of Co₃MgNb₂O₉ required for the magnetic field (electric field) control of electric polarization (magnetization) is measured to be 12.8 ps/m (13.7 ps/m). These results indicate that the Mg substituted Co_4−xMg_xNb₂O₉ (x = 1) could serve as a potential candidate material for applications in future logic spintronics and logic devices.     

Magnetoelectric Energy in Electrodynamics: Magnetoelectricity,Bi(an)isotropy,and Magnetoelectric Meta-Atoms

Magnetoelectricity denotes the relationship between electric polarization and magnetization. In materials with an intrinsic magnetoelectric (ME) effect, the energy density comprises the polarization, magnetization, and ME energy densities. These three components of energy define local (subwavelength) characteristics of electromagnetic (EM) responses in multiferroic materials. In a subwavelength domain, coupling between the electric and magnetic dipole oscillations forms the ME field structures that are characterized by the violation of both spatial and temporal symmetry. Unlike multiferroics, bi(an)isotropic metamaterials are associated with an EM response characterized only by spatial symmetry breaking. This also applies to chiral materials. Since no “intrinsic magnetoelectricity” is assumed in such structures, any concepts about the stored ME energy are not applicable. This clearly points to the effect of nonlocality. That is why the basic concepts of bi(an)isotropy can only be analyzed by the EM far-field characteristics. In this paper, it is argued that in the implementation of local (subwavelength) ME meta-atoms and systems for near-field probing of chirality, the concept on ME energy is crucial. Real ME energy can occur when ME fields in a singular subwavelength domain are characterized by a violation of both the symmetry of time reversal and spatial reflection.     

复合多铁链的磁电耦合行为与外场调控

对含有界面磁电耦合的有限长铁电-铁磁多铁链体系进行了研究,基于矢量离散化思想,构建了描述其磁电性质的微观海森伯模型.利用传递矩阵方法获得了磁化强度、电极化强度、磁电化率等关键热力学量的解析表达式,重点探讨了界面磁电耦合、外场以及单离子各向异性对体系磁电耦合行为的影响和调控.研究结果表明,界面磁电耦合对体系的磁化强度和电极化强度均起促进作用.电场驱动下的电致磁电化率具有更强的磁电关联效应,预示着外电场能够有效地调控体系的磁性行为.而在磁致磁电化率中观察到的低温峰主要源于外磁场的诱导.此外,在高电场作用下体系比热容还呈现出有趣的三峰结构,这种三峰结构是自旋态的热激发以及电偶极矩的电场和温度共同激发导致的.     

Recent development and status of magnetoelectric materials and devices

The magnetoelectric (ME) materials and related devices have been attracting increasing research attention over the last few years. They exhibit strong ME coupling effect at room temperature, and electric field control of magnetization or magnetic field control of ferroelectric polarization can be achieved. The ME coupling effect brings novel functionalities to develop ultra-fast, low-power, and miniaturized electronics. Recent progress shows the performance of ME materials is further improved and the materials are used to develop many new types of electronics such as high-speed memory, radio frequency resonator, compact ME antenna, and weak magnetic field sensor. In this review, we present the overview in those fields with emphasis on both the opportunities and challenges for the application of ME materials and devices in the cutting-edge technologies.     

Magnetic-field-induced ferroelectric state in DyFeO3

Versatile and gigantic magnetoelectric (ME) phenomena have been found for a single crystal of DyFeO3. Below the antiferromagnetic ordering temperature of Dy moments, a linear-ME tensor component as large as alphazz approximately 2.4 x 10(-2) esu is observed. It is also revealed that application of magnetic field along the c axis induces a multiferroic (weakly ferromagnetic and ferroelectric) phase with magnetization [> or =0.5 microB/formula unit (f.u.)] and electric polarization (> or =0.2 microC/cm2) both along the c axis. Exchange striction working between adjacent Fe3+ and Dy3+ layers with the respective layered antiferromagnetic components is proposed as the origin of the ferroelectric polarization in the multiferroic phase.     

Surface magnetoelectric effect in ferromagnetic metal films

A surface magnetoelectric effect is revealed by density-functional calculations that are applied to ferromagnetic Fe(001), Ni(001), and Co(0001) films in the presence of an external electric field. The effect originates from spin-dependent screening of the electric field which leads to notable changes in the surface magnetization and the surface magnetocrystalline anisotropy. These results are of considerable interest in the area of electrically controlled magnetism and magnetoelectric phenomena.     

多铁异质结构中逆磁电耦合效应的研究进展

电场调控磁性能够有效降低功耗,在未来低功耗多功能器件等方面具有巨大的潜在应用前景.铁磁/铁电多铁异质结构是实现电场调控磁性的有效途径,其中室温、磁电耦合效应大的应变媒介磁电耦合是最为活跃的研究领域之一.本文简要介绍在以Pb(Mg_(1/3)Nb_(2/3))_(0.7)Ti_(0.3)O_3为铁电材料的多铁异质结构中通过应变媒介磁电耦合效应对磁性、磁化翻转及磁性隧道结调控的研究进展.首先讨论了多铁异质结构中电场对磁性的调控;之后介绍了电场调控磁化翻转的研究进展及理论上实现的途径;然后简述了电场对磁性隧道结调控的相关结果;最后在此基础上,对多铁异质结构中电场调控磁性及磁性器件进行了总结和展望.     

Imaging and control of surface magnetization domains in a magnetoelectric antiferromagnet

We report the direct observation of surface magnetization domains of the magnetoelectric Cr(2)O(3) using photoemission electron microscopy with magnetic circular dichroism contrast and magnetic force microscopy. The domain pattern is strongly affected by the applied electric field conditions. Zero-field cooling results in an equal representation of the two domain types, while electric-field cooling selects one dominant domain type. These observations confirm the existence of surface magnetization, required by symmetry in magnetoelectric antiferromagnets.     

Effect of electric field on NMR spectra in centroantisymmetric antiferromagnets

A symmetry approach is used to study the influence of electric field E on the NMR frequency spectrum of antiferromagnets of the rhombohedral (Cr₂O₃) and tetragonal (e.g., the Fe₂TeO₆ trirutiles) systems exhibiting a linear magnetoelectric (ME) effect. The latter originates from the presence in their magnetic structure of an antisymmetry center $\bar 1'$ . It is shown that besides the trivial effect of E on the NMR frequency through the total magnetization induced by the ME phenomenon, there also exists an independent mechanism of a direct action of electric field on the local field at the nuclei, which can, in particular, produce an additional NMR frequency splitting. The dependence of this effect on the exchange magnetic structure and orientational state is considered.     

Electric-field control of nonvolatile magnetization in Co40Fe40B20/Pb(Mg(1/3)Nb(2/3))(0.7)Ti(0.3)O3 structure at room temperature

We report a large and nonvolatile bipolar-electric-field-controlled magnetization at room temperature in a Co(40)Fe(40)B(20)/Pb(Mg(1/3)Nb(2/3))(0.7)Ti(0.3)O(3) structure, which exhibits an electric-field-controlled looplike magnetization. Investigations on the ferroelectric domains and crystal structures with in situ electric fields reveal that the effect is related to the combined action of 109° ferroelastic domain switching and the absence of magnetocrystalline anisotropy in Co(40)Fe(40)B(20). This work provides a route to realize large and nonvolatile magnetoelectric coupling at room temperature and is significant for applications.     

Magnetoelectric interaction and magnetic field control of electric polarization in multiferroics

Various aspects of magnetic field control of magnetoelectric (ME) and electric properties of multiferroics are considered: linear ME effect appearance at magnetic field-induced incommensurate–commensurate phase transition, polarization switching and reversal by magnetic field and magnetic field-induced polarization flop transition. The correlation between magnetic, electric, and magnetoelastic properties is shown.     

Magnetoelectric effect in perovskite quantum paraelectric EuTiO3

On the basis of successful theoretical explanation of the observed large magnetic-field effect (by ∼7% with 1.5 T) on the dielectric constant below the Néel temperature T_N of 5.5 K, we have demonstrated convincingly the magnetoelectric effect in an antiferromagnetic quantum paraelectric EuTiO₃ system. The mutual control of electric and magnetic properties is revealed by the variation of the electric-field-induced polarization with applied magnetic fields as well as the change of the magnetic-field-induced spin moments under the control of electric fields. It is found that the applied electric field (magnetic field) acts like a fictitious magnetic field (electric field) on the EuTiO₃ system. The magnetoelectric susceptibility is deduced to be proportional to the product of the magnetization, electrical polarization, magnetic susceptibility and dielectric susceptibility.     

Electric-field-induced magnetization reversal in a ferromagnet-multiferroic heterostructure

A reversal of magnetization requiring only the application of an electric field can lead to low-power spintronic devices by eliminating conventional magnetic switching methods. Here we show a nonvolatile, room temperature magnetization reversal determined by an electric field in a ferromagnet-multiferroic system. The effect is reversible and mediated by an interfacial magnetic coupling dictated by the multiferroic. Such electric-field control of a magnetoelectric device demonstrates an avenue for next-generation, low-energy consumption spintronics.     

First-principles investigation of morphotropic transitions and phase-change functional responses in BiFeO3-BiCoO3 multiferroic solid solutions

We present an ab initio study of the BFCO solid solution formed by multiferroics BiFeO(3) (BFO) and BiFeO(3) (BCO). We find that BFCO presents a strongly discontinuous morphotropic transition between BFO-like and BCO-like ferroelectric phases. Further, for all compositions such phases remain (meta)stable and retain well-differentiated properties. Our results thus suggest that an electric field can be used to switch between these structures and show that such a switching involves large phase-change effects of various types, including piezoelectric, electric, and magnetoelectric ones.     

基于能量转换原理的磁电层合材料低频磁电响应分析

提出了一种基于能量转换原理的磁致伸缩/压电层合材料低频磁电响应模型,并对不同层合结构的磁电响应特性进行了对比研究.该模型假定层合材料层间能量传递通过层间剪切力来实现,利用应力函数法分析了磁致伸缩层和压电层的应力与应变,求出了磁致伸缩层的应变能和存储磁场能以及压电层的应变能和电场能;利用Hamilton最小能量原理求出了层间剪切力的大小,获得了开路状态下层合材料的低频磁电响应模型.发现磁电电压系数与磁致伸缩材料的磁导率、泊松比、磁机耦合系数以及压电材料的泊松比、机电耦合系数等有关,并对这些参数的影响进行了分析.同时对两层和三层结构的层合材料磁电特性进行了对比研究,发现层合结构不同则获得的磁电系数公式不同,用相应的公式计算得到的误差才会最小.研究结果表明,本文的理论误差小于6.5%,与其他方法相比,本文的理论模型能更好地描述磁电层合材料的低频磁电响应特性.     

激发态电荷转移有机体的多铁性研究

随着人们对多铁性的深入了解,越来越多不同类型的有机多铁材料被合成出来.激发态电荷转移有机体的电荷转移网络是由一个提供电子的分子(给体donor,D~+)和一个接受电子的分子(受体acceptor,A~-)有序排列后构成的.D~+A~-长程有序排列,其激发态(激子)具有较长寿命和±1/2自旋,这是产生室温铁电性和铁磁性的根本原因.激发态容易受外场刺激,因此光照、磁场、电场、应力等能够很好地调控这类材料的铁电极化、磁矩和相应的磁电耦合系数.激发态电荷转移有机体不仅大大丰富了室温多铁材料体系,而且可以为开发新型多功能电子器件提供材料基础和技术储备.     

Observation of multiferroic properties in pyroxene NaFeGe2O6

We report the observation of multiferroicity in a clinopyroxene NaFeGe(2)O(6) polycrystal from the investigation of its electrical and magnetic properties. Following the previously known first magnetic transition at T(N1) = 13 K, a second magnetic transition appears at T(N2) = 11.8 K in the temperature dependence of the magnetization. A ferroelectric polarization starts to develop clearly at T(N2) rather than T(N1) and its magnitude increases up to ~13 μC m(-2) at 5 K, supporting the idea that the ferroelectric state in NaFeGe(2)O(6) stems from a helical spin order stabilized below T(N2). When a magnetic field of 90 kOe is applied, the electric polarization decreases to 9 μC m(-2) and T(N2) slightly increases by 0.5 K. At intermediate magnetic fields, around 28 and 78 kOe, anomalies in the magnetoelectric current, magnetoelectric susceptibility, and field derivative of magnetization curves are found, indicating field-induced spin-state transitions. Based on these electrical and magnetic properties, we provide a detailed low temperature phase diagram up to 90 kOe, and discuss the nature of each phase of NaFeGe(2)O(6).     

微纳尺度多铁异质结中电驱动磁反转

近年来,多铁异质结中电控磁性研究引起了广泛关注,已成为多铁领域的热点.现代自旋电子学器件(如磁内存)通常利用电流产生的磁场或自旋转移扭矩效应驱动磁反转来实现数据擦写,但这带来高额能耗和热量,成为亟待解决的关键难题.而利用多铁异质结实施电场驱动磁反转则有望大幅降低能耗,从而实现高速、低能耗、高稳定性新型高密度磁存储、逻辑及其他自旋电子学器件.在当前器件发展的微型化趋势下,探索可集成化的微纳尺度电场驱动磁反转方案显得越发重要.本文针对发展新型磁电器件所面临的微型化关键问题,回顾了微纳尺度电场驱动磁反转研究的新进展,主要关注小尺度多铁异质结中电控磁的新特点、新方法及相关物理机理的实验和理论成果,讨论了进入纳米尺度将面临的挑战,并对未来研究工作提出一些展望.