Observation of spontaneous ferroelectric polarization reversal in multiferroic Mn1-xNixWO4 (x approximate to 0.16)

Abstract

In this Letter, we report the effect of replacing Mn2+ ions with Ni2+ on the ferroelectricity of multiferroic MnWO4 single crystals. When the amount of substitution was close to 16%, the sign of ferroelectric polarization spontaneously became negative with respect to initial dc poling field at a few degrees below T-C. Neutron diffraction intensities revealed a sudden change in the underlying spiral spin ordering that occurred coincidentally with the observed sign reversal. This unusual behavior in zero magnetic fields suggests that strong competitions between the two different magnetic ions may provide an efficient route to manipulation of existing multiferroics. (C) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC.