Multiferroic Microstructure Created from Invariant Line Constraint

Ferroic materials enable a multitude of emerging applications, and optimum functional properties are achieved when ferromagnetic and ferroelectric properties are coupled to a first-order ferroelastic transition. In bulk materials, this first-order transition involves an invariant habit plane, connec...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:arXiv.org 2024-08
Main Authors: Kar, Satyakam, Ikeda, Yuki, Nielsch, Kornelius, Reith, Heiko, Maaß, Robert, Fähler, Sebastian
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Constraints
Ferroelectricity
Ferromagnetic materials
Invariants
Lattice parameters
Magnetic domains
Magnetic properties
Martensite
Martensitic transformations
Microstructure
Multiferroic materials
Shape memory
Size effects
Thin films
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Ferroic materials enable a multitude of emerging applications, and optimum functional properties are achieved when ferromagnetic and ferroelectric properties are coupled to a first-order ferroelastic transition. In bulk materials, this first-order transition involves an invariant habit plane, connecting coexisting phases: austenite and martensite. Theory predicts that this plane should converge to a line in thin films, but experimental evidence is missing. Here, we analyze the martensitic and magnetic microstructure of a freestanding epitaxial magnetic shape memory film. We show that the martensite microstructure is determined by an invariant line constraint using lattice parameters of both phases as the only input. This line constraint explains most of the observable features, which differ fundamentally from bulk and constrained films. Furthermore, this finite-size effect creates a remarkable checkerboard magnetic domain pattern through multiferroic coupling. Our findings highlight the decisive role of finite-size effects in multiferroics.
ISSN:2331-8422