DOE OSTI · 3375491
Unconventional magnon-mediated spin torque enabled by ferroelectric domain engineering in multiferroic BiFeO 3
Abstract
Spin current provides an energy-efficient approach for manipulating magnetization, when its spin polarization aligns with the magnetization direction. However, conventional spin-source materials possess high crystalline symmetry, restricting spin polarization to be orthogonal to both spin and charge current directions. Here, we overcome this limitation by utilizing the concept of magnon-mediated spin-orbit torque through integration of the insulating multiferroic BiFeO 3 with a conventional spin-source material. We observe that spin polarization generated by conventional spin-source material can excite unconventional magnon polarization due to the interplay between cycloidal antiferromagnetic order and the ferroelectric domain structure in BiFeO 3 . This produces an unconventional magnon torque that allows deterministic, field‑free switching of in‑plane magnetization collinear with the current direction, unattainable with conventional spin-source materials. Our results establish multiferroic-based heterostructure as a symmetry‑engineered magnon spin source, paving the way for low-power spintronic devices.
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Liang, Yuhan [Tsinghua Univ., Beijing (China); Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY (United States)], Yan, Xingyu [Tsinghua Univ., Beijing (China)], Jiang, Xiaoyu [Tsinghua Univ., Beijing (China)], Jiang, Dingsong [Tsinghua Univ., Beijing (China)], Bai, Hao [Tsinghua Univ., Beijing (China)], Wang, Zi-An [Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Hefei (China)], Chen, Hetian [Tsinghua Univ., Beijing (China)], Qiu, Xiaofu [Tsinghua Univ., Beijing (China)], Pharis, Daniel [Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY (United States)], Huang, Xiaoxi [Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY (United States)], Jain, Rakshit [Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY (United States)] (ORCID:000000022830559X), Shao, Dingfu [Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Hefei (China)] (ORCID:0000000227324131), Jiang, Wanjun [Tsinghua Univ., Beijing (China)] (ORCID:0000000309183862), Yi, Di [Tsinghua Univ., Beijing (China)] (ORCID:0000000272091947), Ralph, Daniel C. [Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY (United States)] (ORCID:0000000230260335), Nan, Tianxiang [Tsinghua Univ., Beijing (China)] (ORCID:0000000168042029). 2026-04-10. Unconventional magnon-mediated spin torque enabled by ferroelectric domain engineering in multiferroic BiFeO 3. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-71437-5
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