Phase Transformation-Induced Tetragonal FeCo Nanostructures

Tetragonal FeCo nanostructures are becoming particularly attractive because of their high magnetocrystalline anisotropy and magnetization achievable without rare-earth elements, . Yet, controlling their metastable structure, size and stoichiometry is a challenging task. In this study, we demonstrate AuCu templated FeCo shell growth followed by thermally induced phase transformation of AuCu core from face-centered cubic to L1₀ structure, which triggers the FeCo shell to transform from the body-centered cubic structure to a body-centered tetragonal phase. High coercivity, 846 Oe, and saturation magnetization, 221 emu/g, are achieved in this tetragonal FeCo structure. Beyond a critical FeCo shell thickness, confirmed experimentally and by lattice mismatch calculations, the FeCo shell relaxes. The shell thickness and stoichiometry dictate the magnetic characteristics of the tetragonal FeCo shell. This study provides a general route to utilize phase transformation to fabricate high performance metastable nanomagnets, which could open up their green energy applications

Room Temperature Multiferroicity of Charge Transfer Crystals

Room temperature multiferroics has been a frontier research field by manipulating spin-driven ferroelectricity or charge-order-driven magnetism. Charge-transfer crystals based on electron donor and acceptor assembly, exhibiting simultaneous spin ordering, are drawing significant interests for the development of all-organic magnetoelectric multiferroics. Here, we report that a remarkable anisotropic magnetization and room temperature multiferroicity can be achieved through assembly of thiophene donor and fullerene acceptor. The crystal motif directs the dimensional and compositional control of charge-transfer networks that could switch magnetization under external stimuli, thereby opening up an attractive class of all-organic nanoferronics