Flexoelectric polarizing and control of a ferromagnetic metal
Wei Peng, Se Young Park, Chang Jae Roh, Junsik Mun, Hwiin Ju, Jinkwon Kim, Eun Kyo Ko, Zhengguo Liang, Sungsoo Hahn, Jinfeng Zhang, Ana M. Sánchez, David Walker, Steven A. Hindmarsh, Liang Si, Yong Jin Jo, Yongjoo Jo, Tae Heon Kim, Changyoung Kim, Lingfei Wang, Miyoung Kim, Jong Seok Lee, Tae Won Noh, Daesu Lee
Abstract
Abstract Electric polarization is well defined only in insulators not metals, and there is no general scheme to induce and control bulk polarity in metals. Here we circumvent this limitation by utilizing a pseudo-electric field generated by inhomogeneous lattice strain, namely a flexoelectric field, as a means of polarizing and controlling a metal. Using heteroepitaxy and atomic-scale imaging, we show that flexoelectric fields polarize the bulk of an otherwise centrosymmetric metal SrRuO 3 , with off-centre displacements of Ru ions. This further impacts the electronic bands and lattice anisotropy of the flexo-polar SrRuO 3 , potentially leading to an enhancement of electron correlation, ferromagnetism and its anisotropy. Beyond conventional electric fields, flexoelectric fields may be used to create and control electronic states through pure atomic displacements.