Unveiling the room temperature magnetoelectricity of troilite FeS

Abstract

The amazing possibility of magnetoelectric crystals to cross couple electric and magnetic properties without the need of time-dependent Maxwell's equations has attracted a lot of interest in material science. This enthusiasm has re-emerged during the last decade where magnetoelectric and multiferroic crystals have captivated a tremendous number of studies, mostly driven by the quest of low-power-consumption spintronic devices. While several new candidates have been discovered, the desirable magnetoelectric coupling at room temperature is still sparse and calls for new promising candidates. Here, we show from first-principles studies that the troilite phase of the iron sulfide based compounds, one of the most common mineral of Earth, Moon, Mars or meteors, is magnetoelectric up to temperatures as high as 415 K.