A new multiferroic material: MnWO4

We report the multiferroic behaviour of MnWO4, a magnetic oxide with monoclinic crystal structure and spiral long-range magnetic order. Based upon recent theoretical predictions, MnWO4 should exhibit ferroelectric polarization coexisting with the spiral magnetic structure. We have confirmed the multiferroic state below 13 K by observing a finite electrical polarization in the magnetically ordered state via pyroelectric current measurements.