A general mechanism by which orbital ordering, coupled to Peierls-like lattice distortions, can induce an electronic switchable polarization is discussed within a model Hamiltonian approach in the context of the modern theory of polarization. By using a Berry-phase approach, a clear picture emerges in terms of Wannier-function centers and orbital occupancies. The proposed mechanism may apply to oxide spinels whose electronic structure has effective one-dimensional character, such as CdV2O4, recently proposed to display multiferroic behaviour.
@article{arxiv.1204.5106,
title = {Ferroelectricity induced by cooperative orbital ordering and Peierls instability},
author = {Paolo Barone and Silvia Picozzi},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1204.5106},
year = {2015}
}