Electrically reversible magnetization at the antiperovskite/perovskite interface

Using density-functional calculations, we predict the emergence of electrically reversible magnetization at the interface between antiferromagnetic noncollinear antiperovskite GaNMn3 and ferroelectric perovskite BaTiO3. We find that Mn magnetic moments are enhanced and reoriented at the GaNMn3/ATiO3 (001) (A = Sr and Ba) interface, resulting in a sizable net magnetization along the [110] direction. This magnetization is reversed with ferroelectric polarization of BaTiO3 through ∼20◦ rotation of the noncollinear magnetic moments. The effect is driven by ferroelectric modulation of the antiferromagnetic exchange coupling between the interfacial Mn atoms mediated by the Mn-3d orbital population. Our results open opportunities for controlling the magnetic properties by electric fields by exploiting noncollinear antiferromagnetism at antiperovskite/perovskite interfaces