Coupling of Magnetic and Elastic Domains in the Organic-Inorganic Layered Perovskite-Like (C6H5C2H4NH3)2FeIICl4 Crystal

Multiferroic materials coupling ferroelasticity and ferromagnetism show strong magnetoelastic effects as magnetization is induced by mechanical stress or alternately strain induced by applying a magnetic field. These effects were reported for inorganic multiferroics such as LaCoxSr1-xO3. (C6H5C2H4NH3)(2)(FeCl4)-Cl-II is the first example of an organic-inorganic perovskite to exhibit such effects below the canted antiferromagnetism at T-C=98K and ferroelasticity at T-C=433 K. This is shown by switching the magnetic hysteresis on and off by uniaxial pressure through the strong coupling of the magnetic and elastic domains. The spin-canting direction was controlled by mechanical stress in the heating and cooling cycles. This unique observation gives additional impetus in the search for coupled hysteretic effect in organic-inorganic multiferroics.