Electric Field Control of the Verwey Transition and Induced Magnetoelectric Effect in Magnetite

TL;DR

This study demonstrates electric field control over the Verwey transition in magnetite thin films, leading to a significant magnetoelectric effect, with potential implications for spintronic devices.

Contribution

It introduces a method to modulate the Verwey transition using static electric fields in Fe₃O₄ thin films, revealing a new pathway for magnetoelectric coupling.

Findings

Electric fields increase the Verwey transition temperature regardless of polarity.

A large magnetoelectric effect with a coefficient of 585 pT·m/V was observed.

The effect is likely due to polarization or strain, not carrier concentration changes.

Abstract

We incorporate single crystal Fe$_3$O$_4$ thin films into a gated device structure and demonstrate the ability to control the Verwey transition with static electric fields. The Verwey transition temperature ($T_V$) increases for both polarities of the electric field, indicating the effect is not driven by changes in carrier concentration. Energetics of induced electric polarization and/or strain within the Fe$_3$O$_4$ film provide a possible explanation for this behavior. Electric field control of the Verwey transition leads directly to a large magnetoelectric effect with coefficient of 585 pT m/V.