Magnetic Two-Dimensional Chromium Trihalides: A Theoretical Perspective

Abstract

The discovery of ferromagnetic order in monolayer 2D crystals has opened a new venue in the field of two dimensional (2D) materials. 2D magnets are not only interesting on their own, but their integration in van der Waals heterostructures allows for the observation of new and exotic effects in the ultrathin limit. The family of Chromium trihalides, CrI${}_3$, CrBr${}_3$ and CrCl${}_3$, is, so far, the most studied among magnetic 2D crystals. In this mini-review, we provide a perspective of the state of the art of the theoretical understanding of magnetic 2D trihalides, most of which will also be relevant for other 2D magnets, such as vanadium trihalides. We discuss both the well-established facts, such as the origin of the magnetic moment and magnetic anisotropy and address as well open issues such as the nature of the anisotropic spin couplings and the magnitude of the magnon gap. Recent theoretical predictions on Moir\' e magnets and magnetic skyrmions are also discussed. Finally, we give some prospects about the future interest of these materials and possible device applications.

This document is the unedited Author's version of a Submitted Work that was subsequently accepted for publication in Nano Letters, copyright \c{opyright} American Chemical Society after peer review

References in corpus (8)

• Probing magnetism in 2D materials at the nanoscale with single spin microscopy
• Evolution of interlayer and intralayer magnetism in three atomically thin chromium trihalides
• Layer-Resolved Magnetic Proximity Effect in van der Waals Heterostructures
• Physical origin of giant excitonic and magneto-optical responses in two-dimensional ferromagnetic insulators
• Microscopic origin of ferromagnetism in trihalides CrCl${}_3$ and CrI${}_3$
• Magnetic order induced polarization anomaly of Raman scattering in 2D magnet CrI${}_3$
• Magnetic polaron and antiferro-ferromagnetic transition in doped bilayer CrI${}_3$
• Topological magnons in CrI${}_3$ monolayers: an itinerant fermion description

Cited by in corpus (1)

• Relativistic exchange interactions in CrX${}_3$ (X=Cl, Br, I) monolayers