Abstract
The physical properties of two-dimensional van der Waals crystals can be sensitive to interlayer coupling. For two-dimensional magnets1–3, theory suggests that interlayer exchange coupling is strongly dependent on layer separation while the stacking arrangement can even change the sign of the interlayer magnetic exchange, thus drastically modifying the ground state4–10. Here, we demonstrate pressure tuning of magnetic order in the two-dimensional magnet CrI3. We probe the magnetic states using tunnelling8,11–13 and scanning magnetic circular dichroism microscopy measurements2. We find that interlayer magnetic coupling can be more than doubled by hydrostatic pressure. In bilayer CrI3, pressure induces a transition from layered antiferromagnetic to ferromagnetic phase. In trilayer CrI3, pressure can create coexisting domains of three phases, one ferromagnetic and two antiferromagnetic. The observed changes in magnetic order can be explained by changes in the stacking arrangement. Such coupling between stacking order and magnetism provides ample opportunities for designer magnetic phases and functionalities.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 1298-1302 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Nature Materials |
Volume | 18 |
Issue number | 12 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Dec 1 2019 |
Funding
We thank S. Wu and W. Wu for the insightful discussion. This work was mainly supported by the Department of Energy, Basic Energy Sciences, Materials Sciences and Engineering Division, Pro-QM EFRC (grant no. DE-SC0019443). Device fabrication and quantum tunnelling measurement were partially supported by NSF MRSEC (grant no. 1719797), and magnetic circular dichroism measurement was partially supported by the Department of Energy, Basic Energy Sciences, Materials Sciences and Engineering Division (grant no. E-SC0018171). The material synthesis performed at the University of Washington was partially supported by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation’s EPiQS Initiative (grant no. GBMF6759 to J.-H.C.). M.A.M. was supported by the US Department of Energy, Office of Science, Basic Energy Sciences, Materials Sciences and Engineering Division. K.W. and T.T. acknowledge support from the Elemental Strategy Initiative conducted by MEXT, Japan, A3 Foresight by JSPS and CREST (grant no. JPMJCR15F3) and JST. A portion of this work was performed at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, which is supported by National Science Foundation Cooperative Agreement (no. DMR-1644779) and the State of Florida. X.X. and J.-H.C. acknowledge support from the State of Washington-funded Clean Energy Institute. X.X. also acknowledges support from the Boeing Distinguished Professorship in Physics.