Magnetoelectric effect of multiferroic metals

TL;DR

This paper investigates the magnetoelectric effect in multiferroic metals, specifically using first-principles calculations on bilayer NbTe2, revealing a linear response driven by spin-charge interactions and deriving a universal coupling formula.

Contribution

It introduces the first theoretical identification of a multiferroic metal with a unique magnetoelectric response and provides a universal formula for coupling parameters.

Findings

Identified bilayer NbTe2 as a multiferroic metal with coexisting metallicity, polarization, and magnetism.

Discovered a linear magnetoelectric response driven by spin-charge interactions.

Derived a universal formula emphasizing the role of interlayer dielectric permittivity.

Abstract

Much is known about the magnetoelectric effect of multiferroic insulators, yet little is understood about multiferroic metals. In this work, we employ first-principles calculations to identify the sliding van der Waals bilayer $1T$-NbTe$_2$ as a multiferroic metal, where in-plane metallicity coexists with out-of-plane polarization and magnetism. It exhibits linear magnetoelectric response, originating from direct spin-charge interactions as a result of external field-modulated Fermi energy, which differs from the spin-charge-lattice or spin-orbit coupling mechanisms in multiferroic insulators. We derive a universal formula for magnetoelectric coupling parameters of multiferroic metals, which highlights the crucial role of interlayer dielectric permittivity in enhancing performance. Our work provides insights for exploring magnetoelectric coupling mechanisms and designing functional materials with strong magnetoelectric coupling.