Electric-Field Control of Magnetic Order: From FeRh to Topological Antiferromagnetic Spintronics

Abstract

Using an electric field instead of an electric current (or a magnetic field) to tailor the electronic properties of magnetic materials is promising for realizing ultralow-energy-consuming memory devices because of the suppression of Joule heating, especially when the devices are scaled down to the nanoscale. Here, recent results on giant magnetization and resistivity modulation in a metamagnetic intermetallic alloy, FeRh, which is achieved by electric-field-controlled magnetic phase transitions in multiferroic heterostructures are summarized. Furthermore, this approach is extended to topological antiferromagnetic spintronics, which is currently receiving attention in the magnetic society. Furthermore, the antiferromagnetic order parameter can switch back and forth via a small electric field. In the end, the possibility of manipulating exotic physical phenomena in the emerging topological antiferromagnetic spintronics field via the electric-field approach is envisioned.