Magnetoelectric domain engineering from micrometer to {\AA}ngstr{\o}m scales

Abstract

The functionality of magnetoelectric multiferroics depends on the formation, size, and coupling of their magnetic and electric domains. Knowing the parameters guiding these criteria is a key effort in the emerging field of magnetoelectric domain engineering. Here we show, using a combination of piezoresponse-force microscopy, non-linear optics, and x-ray scattering, that the correlation length setting the size of the ferroelectric domains in the multiferroic hexagonal manganites can be engineered from the micron range down to a few unit cells under the substitution of Mn$^{3+}$ ions with Al$^{3+}$ ions. The magnetoelectric coupling mechanism between the antiferromagnetic Mn$^{3+}$ order and the distortive-ferroelectric order remains intact even at substantial replacement of Mn$^{3+}$ by Al$^{3+}$. Hence, chemical substitution proves to be an effective tool for domain-size engineering in one of the most studied classes of multiferroics.