An insight into the magnetoelectric coupling effect in the MOF of [NH2(CH3)2]n[FeIIIFeII(HCOO)6]n

Understanding the microscopic mechanism of magnetoelectric coupling is of fundamental importance for the rational design of multiferroics. Herein, the magnetoelectric coupling effect in the metal-organic frameworks of [NH2(CH3)2]n[FeIIIFeII(HCOO)6]n (1) was investigated, respectively, through measuring the dielectric properties and ferroelectric polarization of single-crystal 1 along different crystal axes under external magnetic fields. Analysis on the magnetic structure of 1 reveals that the defect in the FeII-FeIII sublattices plays a key contribution to the magnetoelectric coupling of 1, providing a unique insight into the magnetoelectric coupling effect of MOFs-based multiferroics.