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Electric polarization reversal and memory in a multiferroic material induced by magnetic fields

Nature volume 429, pages 392–395 (2004)Cite this article

Abstract

Ferroelectric and magnetic materials are a time-honoured subject of study and have led to some of the most important technological advances to date. Magnetism and ferroelectricity are involved with local spins and off-centre structural distortions, respectively. These two seemingly unrelated phenomena can coexist in certain unusual materials, termed multiferroics1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11. Despite the possible coexistence of ferroelectricity and magnetism, a pronounced interplay between these properties has rarely been observed6,12. This has prevented the realization of multiferroic devices offering such functionality13. Here, we report a striking interplay between ferroelectricity and magnetism in the multiferroic TbMn2O5, demonstrated by a highly reproducible electric polarization reversal and permanent polarization imprint that are both actuated by an applied magnetic field. Our results point to new device applications such as magnetically recorded ferroelectric memory.

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Figure 1: Coupled dielectric and magnetic properties at phase transitions.
Figure 2: Magnetic-field dependence of ferroelectricity and memory effect.
Figure 3: Reproducible polarization reversal by magnetic fields.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Science Foundation-MRSEC, and J.S.A. was primarily supported by the Korea Science and Engineering Foundation through the Center for Strongly Correlated Materials Research, Seoul National University.

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Author notes

  1. J. S. Ahn

    Present address: Department of Physics, Pusan National University, Pusan, 609-735, Korea

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics & Astronomy, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey, 08854, USA

    N. Hur, S. Park, P. A. Sharma, J. S. Ahn & S. Guha

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Hur, N., Park, S., Sharma, P. et al. Electric polarization reversal and memory in a multiferroic material induced by magnetic fields. Nature 429, 392–395 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1038/nature02572

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