Strong spin-lattice coupling in tetragonal-like BiFeO3 films with thermal expansion anomalies

The evidence for a spin-lattice coupling in a tetragonal-like BiFeO3 (BFO) film is derived from thermal expansion measurements. Taking the advantage of La doping, the Neel temperature (TN) of the BFO film can be further adjusted over a broad range of temperatures. The lattice parameters exhibit anomalies near the Neel temperatures. The Bi0.8La0.2FeO3 film has a spin order-to-disorder transition at the TN without a structural phase transition, suggesting that a spin-lattice coupling drives the thermal expansion anomalies. The spin-lattice coupling can be enhanced by the coexistence of phases in the thicker BFO films. The density functional theory calculations show a smaller lattice constant of the c axis in the spin-order state than that in the spin-disorder state for the same tetragonal-like phase, which supports that the thermal expansion anomalies are a consequence of the spin-lattice coupling. Our findings may have application prospects for functional materials with controllable thermal expansions.