Chiral Altermagnetic Magnetoelectrics.

Xie, Chengwu; Meng, Weizhen; Guo, Zhenzhou; Zhou, Xiaodong; Qian, Shifeng; Yang, Tie; Wang, Wenhong; Cheng, Zhenxiang et al. · Adv Mater · 2026

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

In this work, we introduce a new class of chiral altermagnetic magnetoelectrics in structurally chiral, nonpolar altermagnetic systems and identify the experimentally well-characterized three-dimensional metal-organic framework K[Co(HCOO) <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><msub><mrow></mrow> <mn>3</mn></msub> </math> ] as a promising material platform. K[Co(HCOO) <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><msub><mrow></mrow> <mn>3</mn></msub> </math> ] exhibits chirality-locked g-wave altermagnetic spin splitting together with dual-mode switchable electric polarization controlled by Néel-vector reorientation and structural chirality. Specifically, Néel-vector reorientation generates a finite electric polarization and reverses its sign, whereas chirality switching between left- and right-handed enantiomers produces an additional sign reversal. The associated electronic and optical responses provide effective readout channels for these switchable states. Our results establish chiral altermagnetic magnetoelectrics as a promising route to chirality- and Néel-vector-controlled nonvolatile multifunctional spintronics.