Even-Odd Layer-Dependent Anomalous Hall Effect in Topological Magnet MnBi2Te4 Thin Films

Abstract

A central theme in condensed matter physics is to create and understand the exotic states of matter by incorporating magnetism into topological materials. One prime example is the quantum anomalous Hall (QAH) state. Recently, MnBi2Te4 has been demonstrated to be an intrinsic magnetic topological insulator and the QAH effect was observed in exfoliated MnBi2Te4 flakes. Here, we used molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) to grow MnBi2Te4 films with thickness down to 1 septuple layer (SL) and performed thickness-dependent transport measurements. We observed a non-square hysteresis loop in the antiferromagnetic state for films with thickness greater than 2 SL. The hysteresis loop can be separated into two AH components. Through careful analysis, we demonstrated that one AH component with the larger coercive field is from the dominant MnBi2Te4 phase, while the other AH component with the smaller coercive field is from the minor Mn-doped Bi2Te3 phase in the samples. The extracted AH component of the MnBi2Te4 phase shows a clear even-odd layer-dependent behavior, a signature of antiferromagnetic thin films. Our studies reveal insights on how to optimize the MBE growth conditions to improve the quality of MnBi2Te4 films, in which the QAH and other exotic states are predicted.

arXiv comment23 pages, 4 figures, comments are welcome

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Cited by in corpus (31)

• Colloquium: Quantum anomalous Hall effect
• Quantized anomalous Hall resistivity achieved in molecular beam epitaxy-grown MnBi2Te4 thin films
• Dissipationless Layertronics in Axion Insulator $\mathrm{MnB}{\mathrm{i}}_2\mathrm{T}{\mathrm{e}}_4$
• Progress and prospects in the quantum anomalous Hall effect
• Visualizing the interplay of Dirac mass gap and magnetism at nanoscale in intrinsic magnetic topological insulators
• Creation of Chiral Interface Channels for Quantized Transport in Magnetic Topological Insulator Multilayer Heterostructures
• Quantum Imaging of Magnetic Phase Transitions and Spin Fluctuations in Intrinsic Magnetic Topological Nanoflakes
• Local manifestations of thickness dependent topology and axion edge state in topological magnet MnBi${}_2$Te${}_4$
• Nonreciprocal transport in a bilayer of MnBi2Te4 and Pt
• Electrically Controlled Anomalous Hall Effect and Orbital Magnetization in Topological Magnet MnBi2Te4
• Fabrication-induced even-odd discrepancy of magnetotransport in few-layer MnBi${}_2$Te${}_4$
• Intrinsic magnetic topological insulators of the MnBi${}_2$Te${}_4$ family
• Antiferromagnetic order in MnBi2Te4 films grown on Si(111) by molecular beam epitaxy
• Coexistence of Superconductivity and Antiferromagnetism in Topological Magnet MnBi2Te4 Films
• Lossless Spin-Orbit Torque in Antiferromagnetic Topological Insulator MnBi${}_2$Te${}_4$
• Correlation between magnetic domain structures and quantum anomalous Hall effect in epitaxial MnBi2Te4 thin films
• Superconductivity by alloying the topological insulator SnBi2Te4
• Direct observation of chiral edge current at zero magnetic field in odd-layer MnBi${}_2$Te${}_4$
• Gate-tunable Intrinsic Anomalous Hall Effect in Epitaxial MnBi2Te4 Films
• Néel Spin-Orbit Torque in Antiferromagnetic Quantum Spin and Anomalous Hall Insulators
• Distinguishing Surface and Bulk Electromagnetism via Their Dynamics in an Intrinsic Magnetic Topological Insulator
• Molecular Beam Epitaxy of Mn2In2Se5 van der Waals Layers Using Mn Intercalation
• Phonon and defect mediated quantum anomalous Hall insulator to metal transition in magnetically doped topological insulators
• Single-layer magnet phase in intrinsic magnetic topological insulators, $[\mathrm{MnTe}][{\mathrm{Bi}}_2{\mathrm{Te}}_3{]}_{\mathrm{n}}$, far beyond the thermodynamic limit
• Magneto-optical effects of an artificially-layered ferromagnetic topological insulator with T${}_C$ of 160 K
• Surface Reconstructions in Thin-Films of Magnetic Topological Insulator MnBi${}_2$Te${}_4$
• Strongly enhanced topological quantum phases in dual-surface AlO${}_x$-encapsulated MnBi${}_2$Te${}_4$
• Chromium chalcohalide Janus monolayer ferromagnets with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy and high Curie temperature
• Spin-orbit torque switching of Néel order in band-inverted antiferromagnetic bilayer MnBi${}_2$Te${}_4$
• Magnetic Interactions and Cluster Formation: Boosting Surface Thermopower in Topological Insulators
• Electronic Correlations Control Interlayer Coupling and Magnetic Transition in MnBi${}_2$Te${}_4$/MnBr${}_3$ Heterostructure