Theoretical studies of all-electric spintronics utilizing multiferroic and magnetoelectric materials

Multiferroic and magnetoelectric materials are considered as major candidates for next-generation information storage technologies due to their simultaneous presence and interplay of two or more ferroic orders. In this paper, we briefly review our theoretical progress relating to the all-electric spintronics, i.e., spin manipulation via an electric means rather than a magnetic field. Special focus is given to interface/surface magnetoelectric effect, electric field control of magnetocrystalline anisotropy, Rashba spin-orbit coupling, spin transport, and other generalized all-electric modulation of magnetism. Our recently developed method, i.e., the orbital selective external potential method, is also expounded. This method might be a powerful tool in finding the mechanisms responsible for the intriguing phenomena occurred in multiferroics or magnetoelectric materials.