Two-dimensional Ferromagnet Research Articles

What will be the Euclidean dimension of an Ising ferromagnetic cubic shell?

The equilibrium and nonequilibrium properties of an Ising ferromagnetic cubic shell have been extensively studied by Monte Carlo simulation using Metropolis single spin flip algorithm. Although, geometrically the Euclidean dimension of the cubical shell is three, interestingly, the Ising ferromagnetic cubic shell undergoes ferromagnetic phase transition at a temperature which is very close to that for two-dimensional Ising ferromagnet. Surprisingly, the Ising ferromagnetic cubic shell shows a strange (neither exponential nor stretched exponential) kind of relaxation behaviour, instead of exponential relaxation as usually observed in the two dimensional Ising ferromagnet. The metastable lifetime of a ferromagnetic Ising cubical shell is studied as a function of the applied magnetic field. Here also, the cubic shell behaves more likely a two-dimensional object as found from statistical analysis and comparison with Becker-Döring prediction of classical nucleation theory.

Chirality- and Rashba- related effects in the spin texture of a two-dimensional centrosymmetric ferromagnet: The case of the CrI3 bilayer

The newly discovered two-dimensional (2D) magnetic semiconductors such as CrI3 have triggered a surge of interest stemming from their exotic spin-dependent properties and potential applications in spintronics and magneto-optoelectronics. Using first-principle density-functional-theory calculations, we investigate the properties of the spin-polarization texture in momentum space in the prototype 2D centrosymmetric ferromagnetic (FM) bilayer of CrI3 with perpendicular magnetization, with a goal of identifying general features due to interlayer interaction and their microscopic origins in 2D centrosymmetric FM materials. The FM CrI3 bilayer displays a rich in-plane spin texture in its highest valence bands. We show the existence of two distinct spin canting effects induced by the coupling of the two FM layers in establishing the in-plane spin texture. The first effect is generated by the mirror-related chirality of the layer stacking and the spin–orbit-polarized nature of the valence states, and yields the same canting on both layers. The second effect is a Rashba-related effect, which in a centrosymmetric ferromagnet induces in a single electronic state two opposite spin-canted components on the two layers, resulting in a notable frustration effect on the energy of the bonding states. Finally, we show that the above effects can be effectively used to manipulate the spin texture via compressive vertical strain, which induces in the FM CrI3 bilayer valence-band-edge states with canted spins.

Numerical simulation of a two-dimensional Blume-Capel ferromagnet in an oscillating magnetic field with a constant bias

We perform a numerical study of the kinetic Blume-Capel (BC) model to find if it exhibits the metamagnetic anomalies previously observed in the kinetic Ising model for supercritical periods [P. Riego , ; G. M. Buendía , ]. We employ a heat-bath Monte Carlo (MC) algorithm on a square lattice in which spins can take values of ±1,0, with a nonzero crystal field, subjected to a sinusoidal oscillating field in conjunction with a constant bias. In the ordered region, we find an equivalent hysteretic response of the order parameters with its respective conjugate fields between the kinetic and the equilibrium model. In the disordered region (supercritical periods), we observed two peaks, symmetrical with respect to zero bias, in the susceptibility and scaled variance curves, consistent with the numerical and experimental findings on the kinetic Ising model. This behavior does not have a counterpart in the equilibrium model. Furthermore, we find that the peaks occur at higher values of the bias field and become progressively smaller as the density of zeros, or the amplitude of the oscillating field, increases. Using nucleation theory, we demonstrate that these fluctuations, as in the Ising model, are not a critical phenomenon, but that they are associated with a crossover between a single-droplet (SD) and a multidroplet (MD) magnetization switching mechanism. For strong (weak) bias, the SD (MD) mechanism dominates. We also found that the zeros concentrate on the droplets' surfaces, which may cause a reduced interface tension in comparison with the Ising model [M. Schick , ]. Our results suggest that metamagnetic anomalies are not particular to the kinetic Ising model, but rather are a general characteristic of spin kinetic models, and provide further evidence that the equivalence between dynamical phase transitions and equilibrium ones is only valid near the critical point. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Disordered two-dimensional ferromagnetism at the surface of FeSi

Disordered two-dimensional ferromagnetism at the surface of FeSi

Controllable magnetic anisotropy in two-dimensional 1T-CrTe2 with electrides sublayer

Exploring the controlled magnetic anisotropy energy (MAE) in two-dimensional (2D) ferromagnets is an essential step towards the emergent magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs) with robust storage stability and low-power consumption. In addition to the transitional charge doping method, we propose that stacking 2D ferromagnet 1T-CrTe2 with electrides substrate can achieve not only the high interfacial charge transfer up to 5.24×1014 cm−2 and but also efficient modification of magnetic behaviors via interfacial engineering. Employing first-principles calculations, we show that the 1T-CrTe2/Ca2N(Y2C) heterostructures exhibit a significant reduction in MAE with a spin reorientation. Notably, the synergistic effect of internal charge transfer, external strain and charge doping shows a significant influence on the magnetic behaviors of the bilayer structures, enabling an efficient modulating of their MAE with distinct dependences. We elucidate that the underlying mechanism is the synergistic effect induced alteration of the spin-polarized px and py states on the Te atom located at the interfaces, which in turn changes the competitive spin-orbit coupling (SOC) contributions to the MAE. These findings provide a practical path toward the controllable MAE in 2D ferromagnets, and make the proposed heterostructures promising candidates for emergent spintronic devices.

Chemical vapor deposition of large-area ultrathin Cr3Te4 nanosheets with robust ferromagnetism

Abstract Chromium tellurides represent a novel class of two-dimensional ferromagnets with significant potential for advanced electronic applications, including spintronics and magnonics. Despite their promise, the fabrication of large-area samples remains a considerable challenge. In this study, we report a facile modification to the common ambient-pressure chemical vapor deposition setup that enables the synthesis of ultrathin Cr3Te4nanosheets (6.4 nm thick) with lateral dimensions exceeding 100 μm. Our findings reveal that by tuning both the growth temperature and the distance between the precursor and substrate, the vapor pressure of the precursor can be precisely controlled, significantly impacting the size and morphology of the synthesized Cr3Te4 nanosheets. The resulting large-size Cr3Te4exhibits robust ferromagnetism, with a Curie temperature reaching 178 K. This advancement in the preparation of large-area Cr3Te4nanosheets opens new avenues for their integration into next-generation electronic devices.

On the spontaneous magnetization of two-dimensional ferromagnets.

Ferromagnetism is typically discussed in terms of the exchange interaction and magnetic anisotropies. Yet real samples are inevitably affected by the magnetostatic dipole-dipole interaction. Because of this interaction, a theorem [R.B. Griffiths, Free Energy of interacting magnetic dipoles, Phys. Rev. 176, 655 (1968)] forbids a spontaneous magnetization in, nota bene, three-dimensional bodies. Here we discuss perpendicularly and in-plane magnetized ferromagnetic bodies in the shape of a slab of finite thickness. In perpendicularly magnetized slabs, magnetic domains are energetically favored when the lateral size is sufficiently large, i.e., there is no spontaneous magnetization. For in-plane magnetization, instead, spontaneous magnetization is possible below a critical thickness which, in very thin films, could be as small as few monolayers. At this critical thickness, we predict a genuine phase transition to a multi-domain state. These results have implications for two-dimensional ferromagnetism.

The magnetic properties, flat and Dirac bands of two-dimensional room-temperature ferromagnetic Kagome material Mn3Sn3Se2

The Kagome lattice is rich in unique electronic and magnetic properties, such as flat band, superconductivity, charge density waves, and so on. In this paper, the magnetic properties, flat and Dirac bands of monolayer Mn3Sn3Se2 with Kagome lattice are investigated based on first-principles calculations. A total of four magnetic configurations are considered, and the intrinsic ground state of Mn3Sn3Se2 is identified as the ferromagnetic state. Strain has a significant effect on its magnetic ground state, which changes to an in-plane AFM state when the tensile strain exceeds 5 %. Monolayer Mn3Sn3Se2 has an out-of-plane magnetic anisotropy of up to 0.777 meV, and the Curie temperature is 528 K. The band structure of the FM state is shown to be metallic, and spin polarized flat and Dirac bands appear near the Fermi level, which are degenerate. Monolayer Mn3Sn3Se2 changes to half-metallic when a strain of 1%–2% is applied. Strain and correlation effects can significantly alter the flatness of flat band and the relative energy with Dirac bands. These results not only enrich the family of two-dimensional ferromagnets, but also provide a reference for studying the regulation of flat and Dirac bands.

Dynamical critical behavior of the two-dimensional three-state Potts model.

We investigate the dynamical critical behavior of the two-dimensional three-state Potts model with single spin-flip dynamics in equilibrium. We focus on the mean-squared deviation of the magnetization M (MSD_{M}) as a function of time, as well as on the autocorrelation function of M. Our simulations reveal the existence of two crossover behaviors at times τ_{1}∼L^{z_{1}} and τ_{2}∼L^{z_{2}}, separating three dynamical regimes. MSD_{M} appears to shift from ordinary diffusion in the first regime, to anomalous diffusion in the second, and finally to be constant in the third regime. The magnetization autocorrelation function, on the other hand, is found to fluctuate between exponential decay, stretched-exponential decay, and then again exponential decay along these three regimes. This behavior is in agreement with the one reported recently for the two-dimensional Ising ferromagnet [Phys. Rev. E 108, 034118 (2023)2470-004510.1103/PhysRevE.108.034118], indicating that the existence of two dynamic critical exponents is not a peculiarity of the Ising model itself. A comparison of both MSD_{M} and the magnetization's autocorrelation function suggests that within our numerical accuracy the exponents z_{1} and z_{2} are shared between the Ising and three-state Potts models at least for the particular case of single spin-flip dynamics studied here, even though their equilibrium universality classes are clearly distinct. Continuity of MSD_{M} requires that α(z_{2}-z_{1})=γ/ν-z_{1}, in which α is the anomalous exponent in the intermediate regime. Since the ratio γ/ν is not shared between the two models, it follows that α is not shared either, an aspect well verified in our simulations. Finally, we also discuss the relevance of our main findings using another useful observable, namely the line magnetization M_{l}.

Dipole–dipole-interaction-induced entanglement between two-dimensional ferromagnets

We investigate the viability of dipole–dipole interaction as a means of entangling two distant ferromagnets. To this end, we make use of the Bogoliubov transformation as a symplectic transformation. We show that the coupling of the uniform magnon modes can be expressed using four squeezing parameters, which we interpret in terms of hybridization, one-mode, and two-mode squeezing. We utilize the expansion in terms of the squeezing parameters to obtain an analytic formula for the entanglement in the magnon ground state using the logarithmic negativity as entanglement measure. Our investigation predicts that for infinitely large two-dimensional ferromagnets, the dipole–dipole interaction does not lead to significant long-range entanglement. However, in the case of finite ferromagnets, finite entanglement can be expected.

Above room-temperature two-dimensional ferromagnetic half-metals in Mn-based Janus magnets

Two-dimensional (2D) ferromagnets and their heterostructures offer fertile grounds for designing fascinating functionalities in ultra-thin spintronic devices. Here, by first-principles calculations, we report the discovery of energetically and thermodynamically stable 2D ferromagnets with very strong in-plane magnetic anisotropy in MnXY (X = S and Se; Y = Cl, Br, and I) monolayers. Remarkably, we find that the Curie temperatures of the ferromagnetic MnSBr, MnSI, MnSeCl, and MnSeI monolayers are as high as 271, 273, 231, and 418 K, respectively. In addition, we demonstrate that these ferromagnetic monolayers are intrinsic half-metals with large spin bandgaps ranging from 2.5 to 3.2 eV. When spin–orbit coupling is considered in these ferromagnetic monolayers, the nature of their half-metal is almost unaffected. Finally, the strong in-plane magnetic anisotropy of MnSY (Y = Br, I) and MnSeY (Y = Cl, I) monolayers originate mainly from halogen and chalcogen atoms, respectively. Our work shows that 2D Janus Mn-based ferromagnetic half-metals may have appealing functionalities in high-performance spintronic applications.

Field-Free Manipulation of Two-Dimensional Ferromagnet CrTe2 by Spin–Orbit Torques

Field-Free Manipulation of Two-Dimensional Ferromagnet CrTe₂ by Spin–Orbit Torques

Optical-Helicity-Dependent Orbital and Spin Dynamics in Two-Dimensional Ferromagnets.

Disentangling orbital (OAM) and spin (SAM) angular momenta in the ultrafast spin dynamics of two-dimensional (2D) ferromagnets on subfemtoseconds is a challenge in the field of ultrafast magnetism. Herein, we employed a non-collinear spin version of real-time time-dependent density functional theory to investigate the orbital and spin dynamics of the 2D ferromagnets Fe3GeTe2 (FGT) induced by circularly polarized light. Our results show that the demagnetization of the Fe sublattice in FGT is accompanied by helicity-dependent precession of the OAM and SAM excited by circularly polarized lasers. We further identify that precession of the OAM and SAM in FGT is faster than demagnetization within a few femtoseconds. Remarkably, circularly polarized lasers can significantly induce a periodic transverse linear response of the OAM and SAM on very ultrafast time scales of ∼600 attoseconds. Our finding suggests a powerful new route for attosecond regimes of the angular momentum manipulation to coherently control helicity-dependent orbital and spin dynamics in 2D ferromagnets.

Strain- and Electron Doping-Induced In-Plane Spin Orientation at Room Temperature in Single-Layer CrTe2.

Ferromagnets with a Curie temperature surpassing room temperature (RT) are highly sought after for advancing planar spintronics. The ultrathin CrTe2 is proposed as a promising two-dimensional (2D) ferromagnet with a Curie temperature above 300 K. However, its single-layer film is highly susceptible to specific external perturbations, leading to variable magnetic features depending on the environment. The magnetic ordering of single-layer CrTe2 remains a topic of debate, and experimental confirmation of ferromagnetic order at RT is still pending. In our study, we utilized molecular beam epitaxy to create a single-layer 1T-CrTe2 on bilayer graphene, demonstrating ferromagnetism above 300 K with in-plane magnetization through superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUID) measurements. Our density functional theory (DFT) calculations suggest that the ferromagnetic properties stem from epitaxial strain, which increases the distance between adjacent Cr atoms within the layer by about 1.6% and enhances the Cr-Te-Cr angle by approximately 1.6°. Due to its interaction with the graphene substrate, the magnetic moment transitions from an out-of-plane to an in-plane orientation, while electronic doping exceeds 1.5 e/u.c. Combining DFT calculations with in situ scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) characterizations allowed us to determine the configuration of the CrTe2 single layer on graphene. This discovery presents the first experimental proof of ferromagnetic order in single-layer CrTe2 with a Curie temperature above RT, laying the groundwork for future applications of CrTe2 single-layer-based spintronic devices.

Coupled Electronic and Magnonic Topological States in Two-Dimensional Ferromagnets.

Magnetic materials offer a fertile playground for fundamental physics discovery, with not only electronic but also magnonic topological states intensively explored. However, one natural material with both electronic and magnonic nontrivial topologies is still unknown. Here, we demonstrate the coexistence of first-order topological magnon insulators (TMIs) and electronic second-order topological insulators (SOTIs) in 2D honeycomb ferromagnets, giving rise to the nontrivial corner states being connected by the charge-free magnonic edge states. We show that, with symmetry, the phase factor ± ϕ caused by the next nearest-neighbor Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction breaks the pseudo-spin time-reversal symmetry , which leads to the split of magnon bands, i.e., the emergence of TMIs with a nonzero Chern number of , in experimentally feasible candidates of MoI3, CrSiTe3, and CrGeTe3 monolayers. Moreover, protected by the symmetry, the electronic SOTIs characterized by nontrivial corner states are obtained, bridging the topological aspect of fermions and bosons with a high possibility of innovative applications in spintronics devices.

Layer-dependence study of two-dimensional ferromagnets: Fe3GeTe2 and Fe5Ge2Te2

We have investigated the electrical transport properties of nanodevices fabricated from exfoliated flakes of two-dimensional metallic ferromagnets Fe3GeTe2 (FGT) and Fe5Ge2Te2 (FG2T) down to below three layers in thickness. The per-layer anomalous Hall conductivity even in thick FGT and FG2T devices is found to be much smaller than ∼e2h, the approximate value calculated for thick undoped crystals. Moreover, we obtain a power-law scaling relation between the per-layer anomalous Hall and per-layer longitudinal conductivities with an exponent close to 1.6, which agrees with the universal value for poor ferromagnetic conductors. Both FGT and FG2T devices show clear layer-dependent Curie temperatures and layer-dependent perpendicular magnetic anisotropy, with FG2T dominating the former and FGT dominating the latter for all thicknesses. Despite their declining trend as the device thickness decreases, both Curie temperature and magnetic anisotropy retain a significant fraction of their bulk values (>60% and >80% of the bulk values, respectively, even in the thinnest FG2T device), indicating attractive potential for practical applications.

Weak ferromagnetism and magnetoelectric coupling in van der Waals antiferromagnet MnPSe3

With the discovery of two-dimensional (2D) ferroelectricity and ferromagnetism in van der Waals (vdW) materials, there has been significant interest in 2D multiferroics. Herein, we report the occurrence of weak ferromagnetism and magnetoelectricity in vdW antiferromagnet MnPSe3 single crystals. Our results demonstrate that MnPSe3 undergoes an antiferromagnetic transition at the Néel temperature TN = 70 K with weak ferromagnetism along the [1–10] direction. Detailed magnetoelectric (ME) data show that MnPSe3 exhibits a linear ME tensor αij with nine nonzero components. Additionally, a magnetically induced electric polarization as large as 98.5 μC/m2 is observed along the [110] direction, with a ME coefficient of 13.5 ps/m at 10 K for a magnetic field of 9 T applied along the [110] direction. Importantly, we discuss our experiments based on symmetry and microscopic analysis, thereby suggesting that the spin-dependent p-d hybridization mechanism plays an important role in the emergence of magnetic-field-induced ferroelectricity. Hence, our findings provide insights for exploring the ME coupling in vdW materials.

Strain-Induced Ferromagnetism in Monolayer T″-Phase VTe2: Unveiling Magnetic States and Anisotropy for Spintronics Advancement.

Two-dimensional (2D) ferromagnets have attracted significant interest for their potential in spintronic device miniaturization, especially since the discovery of ferromagnetic ordering in monolayer materials such as CrI3 and Fe3GeTe2 in 2017. This study presents a detailed investigation into the effects of the Hubbard U parameter, biaxial strain, and structural distortions on the magnetic characteristics of T″-phase VTe2. We demonstrate that setting the Hubbard U to 0 eV provides an accurate representation of the observed structural, magnetic, and electronic features for both bulk and monolayer T″-phase VTe2. The application of strain reveals two distinct ferromagnetic states in the monolayer T″-phase VTe2, each characterized by minor structural differences, but notably different magnetic moments. The T″-1 state, with reduced magnetic moments, emerges under compressive strain, while the T″-2 state, featuring increased magnetic moments, develops under tensile strain. Our analysis also compares the magnetic anisotropy between the T and T″ phases of VTe2, highlighting that the periodic lattice distortion in the T″-phase induces an in-plane anisotropy, which makes it a material with an easy-axis of magnetization. Monte Carlo simulations corroborate our findings, indicating a high Curie temperature of approximately 191 K for the T″-phase VTe2. Our research not only sheds light on the critical aspects of the VTe2 system but also suggests new pathways for enhancing low-dimensional magnetism, contributing to the advancement of spintronics and straintronics.

Distinct skyrmion phases at room temperature in two-dimensional ferromagnet Fe3GaTe2

Distinct skyrmion phases at room temperature hosted by one material offer additional degree of freedom for the design of topology-based compact and energetically-efficient spintronic devices. The field has been extended to low-dimensional magnets with the discovery of magnetism in two-dimensional van der Waals magnets. However, creating multiple skyrmion phases in 2D magnets, especially above room temperature, remains a major challenge. Here, we report the experimental observation of mixed-type skyrmions, exhibiting both Bloch and hybrid characteristics, in a room-temperature ferromagnet Fe3GaTe2. Analysis of the magnetic intensities under varied imaging conditions coupled with complementary simulations reveal that spontaneous Bloch skyrmions exist as the magnetic ground state with the coexistence of hybrid stripes domain, on account of the interplay between the dipolar interaction and the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction. Moreover, hybrid skyrmions are created and their coexisting phases with Bloch skyrmions exhibit considerably high thermostability, enduring up to 328 K. The findings open perspectives for 2D spintronic devices incorporating distinct skyrmion phases at room temperature.

Topology-Engineered Orbital Hall Effect in Two-Dimensional Ferromagnets.

Recent advances in the manipulation of the orbital angular momentum (OAM) within the paradigm of orbitronics presents a promising avenue for the design of future electronic devices. In this context, the recently observed orbital Hall effect (OHE) occupies a special place. Here, focusing on both the second-order topological and quantum anomalous Hall insulators in two-dimensional ferromagnets, we demonstrate that topological phase transitions present an efficient and straightforward way to engineer the OHE, where the OAM distribution can be controlled by the nature of the band inversion. Using first-principles calculations, we identify Janus RuBrCl and three septuple layers of MnBi2Te4 as experimentally feasible examples of the proposed mechanism of OHE engineering by topology. With our work, we open up new possibilities for innovative applications in topological spintronics and orbitronics.