Microscopic Evidence of Spin-Driven Multiferroicity and Topological Spin Textures in Monolayer <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"> <mml:mrow> <mml:msub> <mml:mrow> <mml:mi>NiI</mml:mi> </mml:mrow> <mml:mrow> <mm

In type-II multiferroics, noncollinear spin textures are expected to induce electric polarization directly, leading to strong magnetoelectric coupling. Realizing such spin-driven multiferroicity in two-dimensional (2D) systems, and elucidating the interplay between local spins and electric polarization, are of both fundamental and technological importance. Here, using vectorial spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscopy, we investigated the spin-driven multiferroicity in monolayer NiI_{2} at atomic scale. We identify a canted spin-spiral state with fully determined spin rotation plane, accompanied by a 2Q charge modulation. At spin-spiral domain walls, we discover topological spin textures that are composed of meron-antimeron pairs. These textures are associated with a distinct charge pattern and notable band shifts, indicating local bound charges induced by variations of ferroelectricity at domain wall. Our observations are well captured by a realistic spin model incorporating Kitaev interactions and a generalized spin-current model of type-II multiferroicity. The findings provide microscopic evidence of spin-driven multiferroicity in an extreme 2D system and establish a platform for low-dissipation, electric-field control of topological spin textures.

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Publication Details

Journal
Physical Review Letters
Published
2025-12-19
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1103/4hzc-bm2f
Primary Topic
Multiferroics and related materials
Type
article
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article

Microscopic Evidence of Spin-Driven Multiferroicity and Topological Spin Textures in Monolayer <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"> <mml:mrow> <mml:msub> <mml:mrow> <mml:mi>NiI</mml:mi> </mml:mrow> <mml:mrow> <mm

Karl J. Friston
Physical Review Letters
Multiferroics and related materials
article

Microscopic Evidence of Spin-Driven Multiferroicity and Topological Spin Textures in Monolayer <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"> <mml:mrow> <mml:msub> <mml:mrow> <mml:mi>NiI</mml:mi> </mml:mrow> <mml:mrow> <mm

Karl J. Friston
article en

Abstract

In type-II multiferroics, noncollinear spin textures are expected to induce electric polarization directly, leading to strong magnetoelectric coupling. Realizing such spin-driven multiferroicity in two-dimensional (2D) systems, and elucidating the interplay between local spins and electric polarization, are of both fundamental and technological importance. Here, using vectorial spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscopy, we investigated the spin-driven multiferroicity in monolayer NiI_{2} at atomic scale. We identify a canted spin-spiral state with fully determined spin rotation plane, accompanied by a 2Q charge modulation. At spin-spiral domain walls, we discover topological spin textures that are composed of meron-antimeron pairs. These textures are associated with a distinct charge pattern and notable band shifts, indicating local bound charges induced by variations of ferroelectricity at domain wall. Our observations are well captured by a realistic spin model incorporating Kitaev interactions and a generalized spin-current model of type-II multiferroicity. The findings provide microscopic evidence of spin-driven multiferroicity in an extreme 2D system and establish a platform for low-dissipation, electric-field control of topological spin textures.

Physical Review LettersVol. 136(2)
Fudan University (CN), Hefei University (CN), Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures (CN), Tsinghua University (CN)
Openalex Percentile: Top 69%
Multiferroics and related materials
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