Abstract
Using first-principles density-functional theory we predict a ferroelectric ground state-driven by the off-centering of the magnetic Mn4+ ion-in perovskite-structure BaMnO3. Our finding is surprising since the competition between energy-lowering covalent bond formation and energy-raising Coulombic repulsions usually only favors off-centering on the perovskite B site for nonmagnetic d0 ions. We explain this tendency for ferroelectric off-centering by analyzing the changes in electronic structure between the centrosymmetric and polar states and by calculating the Born effective charges; we find anomalously large values for Mn and O consistent with our calculated polarization of 12.8 μC/ cm2. Finally, we suggest possible routes by which the perovskite phase may be stabilized over the usual hexagonal phase to enable a practical realization of a single-phase multiferroic.
Original language | English (US) |
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Article number | 205119 |
Journal | Physical Review B - Condensed Matter and Materials Physics |
Volume | 79 |
Issue number | 20 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - May 1 2009 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
- Condensed Matter Physics