Tuning a sign of magnetoelectric coupling in paramagnetic NH2(CH3)2Al1−xCrx(SO4)2 × 6H2O crystals by metal ion substitution. Issue 1 (December 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kapustianyk, V.; Eliyashevskyy, Yu.; Czapla, Z.; Rudyk, V.; Serkiz, R.; Ostapenko, N.; Hirnyk, I.; Dayen, J.-F.; Bobnar, M.; Gumeniuk, R.; Kundys, B.
• Is Part Of: Scientific reports. Volume 7:Issue 1(2017)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 8
• Publication Date: 2017-12
• Subjects: Natural history -- Research -- Periodicals; Biology -- Research -- Periodicals; Physical sciences -- Research -- Periodicals; Earth sciences -- Research -- Periodicals; Environmental sciences -- Research -- Periodicals; 502.85
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-14388-8
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2045-2322

Abstract

Abstract Hybrid organometallic systems offer a wide range of functionalities, including magnetoelectric (ME) interactions. However, the ability to design on-demand ME coupling remains challenging despite a variety of host-guest configurations and ME phases coexistence possibilities. Here, we report the effect of metal-ion substitution on the magnetic and electric properties in the paramagnetic ferroelectric NH2 (CH3 )2 Al1−x Crx (SO4 )2 × 6H2 O. Doing so we are able to induce and even tune a sign of the ME interactions, in the paramagnetic ferroelectric (FE) state. Both studied samples withx = 0.065 andx = 0.2 become paramagnetic, contrary to the initial diamagnetic compound. Due to the isomorphous substitution with Cr the ferroelectric phase transition temperature (T c ) increases nonlinearly, with the shift being larger for the 6.5% of Cr. A magnetic field applied along the polarc axis increases ferroelectricity for thex = 0.065 sample and shiftsT c to higher values, while inverse effects are observed forx = 0.2. The ME coupling coefficient αME = 1.7 ns/m found for a crystal with Cr content ofx = 0.2 is among the highest reported up to now. The observed sign change of αME with a small change in Cr content paves the way for ME coupling engineering.