Single Crystal Neutron Diffraction Study of Organic Multiferroic (ND$_{4}$)$_{2}$[FeCl$_{5}$(D$_{2}$O)]

ORAL

Abstract

(NH$_{\mathrm{4}})_{\mathrm{2}}$[FeCl$_{\mathrm{5}}$(H$_{\mathrm{2}}$O)] is a new organic multiferroic that exhibits intriguing magnetic/multiferroic behavior as a function of temperature and applied magnetic field. Unlike its counterpart compounds where NH$_{\mathrm{4}}$ group is replaced by K, Cs, and Rb, (NH$_{\mathrm{4}})_{\mathrm{2}}$[FeCl$_{\mathrm{5}}$(H$_{\mathrm{2}}$O)] is the only system that undergoes two successive magnetic transitions accompanied by pronounced spontaneous electric polarization. Large deuterated (ND$_{\mathrm{4}})_{\mathrm{2}}$[FeCl$_{\mathrm{5}}$(D$_{\mathrm{2}}$O)] single crystals were grown and characterized by specific heat and magnetization measurements showing no significant effects due to deuteration. Here we report single crystal neutron diffraction results that reveal an incommensurate antiferromagnetic order below T$_{\mathrm{N}}$ $\sim$ 7.3 K with a propagation vector of (0 0 $\sim$ 0.77). Higher harmonic Bragg peaks were observed indicate ``squaring up'' behavior upon further cooling. At 1.5 K, a field induced incommensurate-to-commensurate transition was also observed by applying magnetic field along the $a$-axis.

*Research conducted at ORNL's High Flux Isotope Reactor was sponsored by the Scientific User Facilities Division, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, U. S. Department of Energy.

Authors

  • Wei Tian

    • Oak Ridge National Laboratory
  • Huibo Cao

    • Oak Ridge National Laboratory
  • Jiaqiang Yan

    • Oak Ridge National Laboratory
  • Bryan Chakoumakos

    • Oak Ridge National Laboratory
  • Brian Sales

    • Oak Ridge National Laboratory
  • Jaime Fernandez-Baca

    • Oak Ridge National Laboratory