Magnetic topological properties of MnBi₂Te₄ tuned by electric coupling

Using first-principle calculations, we investigate the electronic, magnetic and quantum topological properties of a multilayer MnBi₂Te₄ system on substrates. We propose a mechanism to control its electronic, magnetic and topological properties by electric field. We identify the most stable stack order between MnBi₂Te₄ and the substrates. Due to the strong coupling between the magnetic moments and the electrical dipole moments of the substrate, the magnetic order of MnBi₂Te₄ changes drastically by applying an electric field, which also leads to a topological phase transition. Our work proposes a new way to control the magnetic order of MnBi₂Te₄ and its topological states by electric fields.