Designing a ferrimagnetic-ferroelastic multiferroic semiconductor in FeMoClO4 nanosheets via element substitution

Abstract

Exploring two-dimensional multiferroic semiconductors, combined with ferro-/ferrimagnetism and ferroelasticity as well as large spin polarization around the valence band maximum (VBM) and conduction band minimum (CBM), is highly desirable but remains a challenging task. Here, via first-principles calculations, we predict such a material based on the square phase FeMoClO₄ nanosheet, which is experimentally accessible by exfoliating its layered bulk. Pristine FeMoClO₄ nanosheets are a weak antiferromagnet with zero spin polarization. After substituting nonmagnetic Mo with magnetic Mn, the resulting FeMnClO₄ nanosheet becomes ferrimagnetic with magnetic ordering temperature significantly enhanced from 14 to 127 K. Besides, the FeMnClO₄ nanosheet is a half semiconductor with its VBM and CBM 100% spin-polarized in the same spin direction. Interestingly, the initial square lattice is distorted into a rectangular one, inducing an in-plane ferroelasticity in the FeMnClO₄ nanosheet with a switching barrier of 27 meV per atom. Moreover, under ferroelastic transition, the orientation of the magnetic easy axis can be reversibly rotated by 90°, indicating a strong magnetoelastic coupling.