Evidence of a magnetic transition in atomically thin Cr2TiC2T: X MXene

Kanit Hantanasirisakul, Babak Anasori, Slavomir Nemsak, James L. Hart, Jiabin Wu, Yizhou Yang, Rajesh V. Chopdekar, Padraic Shafer, Andrew F. May, Eun Ju Moon, Jun Zhou, Qinghua Zhang, Mitra L. Taheri, Steven J. May, Yury Gogotsi

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

71 Scopus citations

Abstract

Two-dimensional (2D) transition metal carbides and nitrides known as MXenes have shown attractive functionalities such as high electronic conductivity, a wide range of optical properties, versatile transition metal and surface chemistry, and solution processability. Although extensively studied computationally, the magnetic properties of this large family of 2D materials await experimental exploration. 2D magnetic materials have recently attracted significant interest as model systems to understand low-dimensional magnetism and for potential spintronic applications. Here, we report on synthesis of Cr2TiC2Tx MXene and a detailed study of its magnetic as well as electronic properties. Using a combination of magnetometry, synchrotron X-ray linear dichroism, and field- and angular-dependent magnetoresistance measurements, we find clear evidence of a magnetic transition in Cr2TiC2Tx at approximately 30 K, which is not present in its bulk layered carbide counterpart (Cr2TiAlC2 MAX phase). This work presents the first experimental evidence of a magnetic transition in a MXene material and provides an exciting opportunity to explore magnetism in this large family of 2D materials.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1557-1565
Number of pages9
JournalNanoscale Horizons
Volume5
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2020

Funding

This work was funded by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Science, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, grant #DESC0018618. XMLD measurements were performed at the PEEM3 end station of beamline 11.0.1 and the VMM end station of beamline 4.0.2 at the Advanced Light Source, the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science User Facility under contract no. DE-AC02-05CH11231. J. L. H. and M. L. T. acknowledge funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF) MRI award #DMR-1429661 to support the high temperature resistance measurements performed within a TEM. Magnetic characterization (A. F. M.) was supported by the U. S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Basic Energy Sciences, Materials Sciences and Engineering Division. Dr Xu Xiao is acknowledged for help with TEM measurements. Prof. Goran Karapetrov (Drexel University) is acknowledged for providing access to atomic force microscope. Materials Characterization Core at Drexel University is acknowledged for providing access to SEM, XRD, and XPS.

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