Dielectric properties and magnetoelectric coupling in polar magnet (Fe, Zn)2Mo3O8

A complete understanding of magnetoelectric (ME) coupling in polar magnet Fe2Mo3O8 (FMO) remains elusive. Here, we report the magnetodielectric (MD) and ME effects of (Fe1-xZnx)(2)Mo3O8 (x = 0, 0.05) single crystals. The observation of MD effect in FMO shows a sharp peak once T is below T-N due to the metamagnetic transition, which is converted into an obvious step upon cooling. Meanwhile, the change of magnetization M modulated by electric field E is striking at the dielectric constant peak/step. In (Fe0.95Zn0.05)(2)Mo3O8, however, the sharp peak at just below T-N is intact, while the step at much lower T-N is highly damaged. The ME response to 5% Zn2+ dopants at the two T-ranges shows different behavior. Combining with spin wave theory, it is possible to speculate that the inverse Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction might play a dominant role in the ME nature at just below T-N, which is different from that at much lower T-N.

Automated summary

The study investigated the magnetodielectric and magnetoelectric effects of (Fe1-xZnx)(2)Mo3O8 single crystals, revealing sharp MD effect in FMO and modulated magnetization M by electric field E. The ME response to Zn2+ dopants showed different behavior at two temperature ranges in (Fe0.95Zn0.05)(2)Mo3O8.