We report a large near-infrared (NIR) optical diode effect (ODE) and its electric field switching in the antiferromagnetic state of ${\mathrm{LiFePO}}_4$. The difference in absorption coefficients for light travelling in opposite directions, divided by the sum, reaches $\sim 25\%$ at a photon energy of 1.18 eV. Symmetry analysis attributes the ODE to the spin-allowed $d\text{−}d$ transitions of octahedrally coordinated $\mathrm{F}{\mathrm{e}}^{2+}$ via the spin-orbit interaction. Given the abundance of iron and potentially high magnetic transition temperature in iron-based materials, this study may open the door to the application of the NIR ODE.

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• Electric field effects
• Magneto-optical effect
• Magnetoelectric effect
• Non-reciprocal propagation
• Non-reciprocal transmission
• Antiferromagnets
• Infrared spectroscopy
• Optical absorption spectroscopy