Observation of spontaneous ferroelectric polarization reversal in multiferroic Mn{sub 1−x}Ni{sub x}WO{sub 4} (x ≈ 0.16)

Journal Article · Mon Jun 23 00:00:00 EDT 2014 · Applied Physics Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4885392· OSTI ID:22303865

Song, Young-Sang; Chung, Jae-Ho ^[1]; Woo Shin, Kwang; Hoon Kim, Kee ^[2]; Hwan Oh, In ^[3]

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1. Department of Physics, Korea University, Seoul 136-713 (Korea, Republic of)
2. CeNSCMR, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-747 (Korea, Republic of)
3. Neutron Science Division, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Daejeon (Korea, Republic of)

In this Letter, we report the effect of replacing Mn{sup 2+} ions with Ni{sup 2+} on the ferroelectricity of multiferroic MnWO{sub 4} single crystals. When the amount of substitution was close to 16%, the sign of ferroelectric polarization spontaneously became negative with respect to initial dc poling field at a few degrees below T{sub C}. Neutron diffraction intensities revealed a sudden change in the underlying spiral spin ordering that occurred coincidentally with the observed sign reversal. This unusual behavior in zero magnetic fields suggests that strong competitions between the two different magnetic ions may provide an efficient route to manipulation of existing multiferroics.

• OSTI ID: 22303865
• Journal Information: Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 104, Issue 25; Other Information: (c) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0003-6951
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
COMPETITION
FERROELECTRIC MATERIALS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MANGANESE IONS
MANGANESE TUNGSTATES
MONOCRYSTALS
NEUTRON DIFFRACTION
NICKEL COMPOUNDS
NICKEL IONS
POLARIZATION
SPIN