Overview and advances in a layered chiral helimagnet Cr1/3NbS2

Abstract

Topology and magnetism are both very classical subjects of condensed matter physics, and chiral helimagnets with topological spin textures provide new pathways to explore them together. In parallel, two-dimensional (2D) materials with ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic order have aroused raising research attention. However, 2D materials with helimagnetic order or with topological spin configurations still remain unexplored, in part owing to the lack of a comprehensive understanding of various helimagnetic crystals. Herein, we provide an updated review on one layered helimagnet Cr1/3NbS2, as a unique combination of layered structure, helimagnetic order, topological spin textures, quasi-particle properties, and strong spin-orbit coupling. The crystal lattice, band structure, magnetic properties, electronic behavior, and topological states, as well as the potential device applications are discussed in a systematic way. We believe that more researches on layered helimagnetic materials, either theoretically or experimentally, would promote the development of next-generation topological spintronic applications with low energy consumption.