Theoretical model of spintronic device based on tunable anomalous Hall conductivity of monolayer CrI3

Abstract

Based on density functional theory, we study the intrinsic anomalous Hall conductivity (AHC) of monolayer (ML) CrI3 in different magnetic configurations. We find that ML CrI3 in both the in-plane and off-plane ferromagnetic (FM) states hosts significant AHC, with quantum plateaus occurring at topologically nontrivial bandgaps. In the in-plane FM state, the AHC of ML CrI3 depends sensitively on the magnetization direction. First, the sign of AHC can be inverted whenever the magnetization angle increases by 60°. Second, the AHC vanishes if the magnetization angle is equal to the odd times of 30°. By doping electrons and applying moderate strain, one can switch the magnetic ground state between the off- and in-plane FM states and manipulate the magnitude and sign of the AHC. Based on these features of AHC of ML CrI3, we propose a theoretical model to realize the functions of spintronic devices such as the reversible spin transport, magnetic sensors, or magnetic read-in head.