Magnetoelectric control of spin-chiral ferroelectric domains in a triangular lattice antiferromagnet

Abstract

We have grown single crystals of a triangular lattice antiferromagnet (TLA), ${\text{CuCrO}}_{2}$, and investigated the correlation between magnetic and dielectric properties. Two magnetic phase transitions are observed at ${T}_{\text{N}2}\ensuremath{\approx}24.2\text{ }\text{K}$ and ${T}_{\text{N}1}\ensuremath{\approx}23.6\text{ }\text{K}$. It was found that ferroelectric polarization along the triangular lattice plane develops at ${T}_{\text{N}1}$, suggesting that the system undergoes a transition into an out-of-plane $120\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$ spin-chiral phase at ${T}_{\text{N}1}$. The TLA provides an opportunity for unique magnetoelectric control of spin-chiral ferroelectric domain structures by means of electric and/or magnetic fields.