Multiferroic Magnetic and Ferroelectric Properties studied through linear and cirucal x-ray dichroism

Multiferroic materials are defined as materials simultaneously possess more than one primary ferroic properties in the same phase. The functionalities of both ferroelectric and magnetic order are rare and hold significant interest in writing and reading for next-generation nonvolatile memory. The mutually exclusive electronic structure required for ferroelectricity and ferromagnetism make the search for both orders in a single-phase material challenging. By doping magnetic Fe ions in the prototypical 2D vdW ferroelectric SnSe (Sn1-xFexSe), we observe robust room temperature magnetization, a novel property in the class of vdW materials. The origins to the magnetic behavior require a microscopic understanding into orbital and spin moments by means of x-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD). Additionally, the polar distortions responsible for ferroelectricity can be delineated element and orbital specific sensitivity through x-ray linear dichroism. This can inform the electron preferential occupation in stabilizing both magnetic and ferroelectric orders. These properties can be further understood in bulk and few atomic layers to determine structural distortions that cooperate with magnetic ordering. The results from this study and inform the design of ultra-thin compact multiferroic tunnel junctions that are able to electrically read and write non-volatile logic.