Coupling Magnetic and Ferroelectric Phenomena in Designed 2D Thio- and Selenophosphate Crystals
Abstract
For almost a decade, the majority of research communityÕs attention has been focused on layered transition metal di-chalcogenide systems. While the typical and obvious variations to their crystal chemical architecture have been explored, these have all been largely constrained to a limited range of compositions and structures. Yet, a quick glance at the periodic table shows the prospects for more complex compositions coupled to cation motifs that can form more functional layered crystal systems with the high potential to exhibit novel physical properties and phenomena. This interdisciplinary project focuses on fundamental studies of the two-dimensional (2D) metal chalcophosphates. These materials are semiconductors or Mott insulators, with the selenides having narrower bandgaps than the sulfides. Their great degree of functionality and tunability comes from distinct elements which lend themselves to straightforward chemical manipulation and control. The metal chalcophosphates provide either magnetic or ferroelectric behavior, depending on their composition. The project synthesizes and grow single crystals of metal chalcophosphates and investigates their magnetic and ferroelectric properties in detail. As a new class of materials the project designs them to exhibit both magnetic and ferroelectric order, with coupling of these two order parameters at the atomic level. The project seeks to identify and study unique combinations of non-linear ferromagnetic and ferroelectric phenomena in the few layer or single layer limits and how they are coupled to each other. New type of 2D magneto-ferroelectric materials with unique sets of properties are anticipated.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- May 20, 2019
- Source ID
- W911NF1910335
Entities
People
- Mercouri Kanatzidis
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- Northwestern University
- United States Army