Scanning SQUID characterization of strained multiferroic iron substituted gadolinium orthochromite thin film

Canted antiferromagnets GdCrO3 and GdFeO3 have drawn extensive attention due to large magnetoelectric effects, although low temperature multiferroic ordering currently limits possible applications. Iron substitution into GdCrO3 increases both antiferromagnetic and ferroelectric transition temperatures. Room temperature magnetoelectric coupling in a single-phase material has yet to be realized. Here, we report the synthesis of a strained GdFe0.5Cr0.5O3 thin film grown on SrTiO3 and investigation of magnetic domain structure and temperature dependence with scanning superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) microscopy. Magnetic domain structure remains above 70 K although magnetization of the domain dramatically decreases, which is consistent with bulk hysteresis measurements, in contrast to unstrained samples previously studied. Our results suggest strain tuning Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interactions in GdFe0.5Cr0.5O3 offers a route to control multiferroic properties in this family of materials.