Abstract
Multiferroics have received intense attention due to their great application potential in multi-state information storage devices and new types of sensors. Coupling among ferroic orders such as ferroelectricity, (anti-)ferromagnetism, ferroelasticity and so on will enable dynamic interaction between these ordering parameters. Direct visualization of such coupling behavior in single-phase multiferroic materials is highly desirable for both applications and fundamental study. Manipulation of both ferroelectric and magnetic domains of Bi5Ti3FeO15 thin film using electric field and external mechanical force is reported, which confirms the magnetoelectric coupling in Bi5Ti3FeO15, indicates the electric and magnetic orders are coupled through ferroelasticity. Due to the anisotropic relaxation of ferroelastic strain, the back-switching of out-of-plane electric domains is not as obvious as in-plane. An inevitable destabilization of the coupling between elastic and magnetic ordering happens because of the elastic strain relaxation, which result in a subsequent decay of magnetic domain switching. Mechanical force applied on the surface of Bi5Ti3FeO15 film generates by an atomic force microscopy tip will effectively drive a transition of the local ferroelastic strain state, reverse both the polarization and magnetization in a way similar to an electric field. Current work provides a framework for exploring cross-coupling among multiple orders and potential for developing novel nanoscale functional devices.
Highlights
Multiferroic materials have been drawing extensive attention worldwide because they simultaneously possess ferroelectric, magnetic and/or ferroelastic properties
Zhao et al.[7] observed antiferromagnetic domain switching induced by ferroelectric polarization switching in BiFeO3 thin films, whereas Keeney et al.[8] demonstrated that ferroelectric domain polarization switching could be induced by an applied magnetic field in Aurivillius-phase multiferroic thin films
Domain switching by electric field Figure 2a–h is topographic images and corresponding vertical piezoresponse force microscope (VPFM), lateral piezoresponse force microscope (LPFM), magnetic force microscopy (MFM) and electrostatic force microscope (EFM) images before electrical switching
Summary
Multiferroic materials have been drawing extensive attention worldwide because they simultaneously possess ferroelectric, magnetic and/or ferroelastic properties. Mechanical force applied on the surface of Bi5Ti3FeO15 film generates by an atomic force microscopy tip will effectively drive a transition of the local ferroelastic strain state, reverse both the polarization and magnetization in a way similar to an electric field.
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