Electric field control of the Verwey transition and induced magnetoelectric effect in magnetite

We incorporate single-crystal Fe₃O₄ thin films into a gated device structure and demonstrate the ability to control the Verwey transition with static electric fields. The Verwey transition temperature (TV) increases for both polarities of the electric field, indicating that the effect is not driven by changes in carrier concentration. The energetics of induced electric polarization and/or strain within the Fe₃O₄ film provide a possible explanation for this behavior. Electric field control of the Verwey transition leads directly to a large magnetoelectric effect with coefficient of 585 pT m/V.