Antiferromagnetic textures in BiFeO3 controlled by strain and electric field

TLDR

Antiferromagnetic thin films are promising for low‑dissipation magnonics and spintronics, yet tunable antiferromagnetic textures at the sub‑micron scale remain largely unknown. The study aims to image diverse antiferromagnetic spin textures in multiferroic BiFeO₃ thin films that can be tuned by strain and manipulated by electric fields through room‑temperature magnetoelectric coupling. Piezoresponse force microscopy and scanning NV magnetometry on self‑organized ferroelectric patterns of BiFeO₃ reveal how strain stabilizes bulk‑like and exotic spin cycloids as well as collinear antiferromagnetic textures. Resonant elastic X‑ray scattering confirms both types of spin cycloids, and electric‑field control of the ferroelectric landscape induces transitions between collinear and non‑collinear states or between different cycloids, enabling reconfigurable antiferromagnetic spin textures on demand.

Abstract

Abstract Antiferromagnetic thin films are currently generating considerable excitement for low dissipation magnonics and spintronics. However, while tuneable antiferromagnetic textures form the backbone of functional devices, they are virtually unknown at the submicron scale. Here we image a wide variety of antiferromagnetic spin textures in multiferroic BiFeO 3 thin films that can be tuned by strain and manipulated by electric fields through room-temperature magnetoelectric coupling. Using piezoresponse force microscopy and scanning NV magnetometry in self-organized ferroelectric patterns of BiFeO 3 , we reveal how strain stabilizes different types of non-collinear antiferromagnetic states (bulk-like and exotic spin cycloids) as well as collinear antiferromagnetic textures. Beyond these local-scale observations, resonant elastic X-ray scattering confirms the existence of both types of spin cycloids. Finally, we show that electric-field control of the ferroelectric landscape induces transitions either between collinear and non-collinear states or between different cycloids, offering perspectives for the design of reconfigurable antiferromagnetic spin textures on demand.