The Biaxial Strain Dependence of Magnetic Order in Spin Frustrated Mn₃NiN Thin Films

Abstract

Abstract Multicomponent magnetic phase diagrams are a key property of functional materials for a variety of uses, such as manipulation of magnetization for energy efficient memory, data storage, and cooling applications. Strong spin‐lattice coupling extends this functionality further by allowing electric‐field‐control of magnetization via strain coupling with a piezoelectric. Here this work explores the magnetic phase diagram of piezomagnetic Mn 3 NiN thin films, with a frustrated noncollinear antiferromagnetic (AFM) structure, as a function of the growth induced biaxial strain. Under compressive strain, the films support a canted AFM state with large coercivity of the transverse anomalous Hall resistivity, ρ xy , at low temperature, that transforms at a well‐defined Néel transition temperature ( T N ) into a soft ferrimagnetic‐like (FIM) state at high temperatures. In stark contrast, under tensile strain, the low temperature canted AFM phase transitions to a state where ρ xy is an order of magnitude smaller and therefore consistent with a low magnetization phase. Neutron scattering confirms that the high temperature FIM‐like phase of compressively strained films is magnetically ordered and the transition at T N is first‐order. The results open the field toward future exploration of electric‐field‐driven piezospintronic and thin film caloric cooling applications in both Mn 3 NiN itself and the broader Mn 3 A N family.