ZrTe2/CrTe2: an epitaxial van der Waals platform for spintronics

Abstract

The rapid discovery of two-dimensional (2D) van der Waals (vdW) quantum materials has led to heterostructures that integrate diverse quantum functionalities such as topological phases, magnetism, and superconductivity. In this context, the epitaxial synthesis of vdW heterostructures with well-controlled interfaces is an attractive route towards wafer-scale platforms for systematically exploring fundamental properties and fashioning proof-of-concept devices. Here, we use molecular beam epitaxy to synthesize a vdW heterostructure that interfaces two material systems of contemporary interest: a 2D ferromagnet (1T-CrTe2) and a topological semimetal (ZrTe2). We find that one unit-cell (u.c.) thick 1T-CrTe2 grown epitaxially on ZrTe2 is a 2D ferromagnet with a clear anomalous Hall effect. In thicker samples (12 u.c. thick CrTe2), the anomalous Hall effect has characteristics that may arise from real-space Berry curvature. Finally, in ultrathin CrTe2 (3 u.c. thickness), we demonstrate current-driven magnetization switching in a full vdW topological semimetal/2D ferromagnet heterostructure device.

Includes new data (ST-FMR) and calculations (spin Hall conductivity)

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Cited by in corpus (16)

• Strain-tunable Berry curvature in quasi-two-dimensional chromium telluride
• Wafer-scale epitaxial growth of the thickness-controllable van der Waals ferromagnet CrTe2 for reliable magnetic memory applications
• Magnetic Anisotropy in Two-dimensional van der Waals Magnetic Materials and Their Heterostructures: Importance, Mechanisms, and Opportunities
• Room temperature magnetic phase transition in an electrically-tuned van der Waals ferromagnet
• Tuning the Magnetism in Ultrathin CrxTey Films by Lattice Dimensionality
• Enhanced Ferromagnetism in Monolayer Cr2Te3 via Topological Insulator Coupling
• Unusual ferromagnetic band evolution and high Curie temperature in monolayer 1T-CrTe2 on bilayer graphene
• Electrically tunable Gilbert damping in van der Waals heterostructures of two-dimensional ferromagnetic metals and ferroelectrics
• Efficient Soft-Chemical Synthesis of Large van-der-Waals Crystals of the Room-Temperature Ferromagnet 1T-CrTe2
• Reentrant topological phases and spin density wave induced by 1D moiré potentials
• Significant electron-magnon scattering in layered ferromagnet Cr${}_2$Te${}_3$
• Uncovering the lowest thickness limit for room-temperature ferromagnetism of Cr${}_{1.6}$Te${}_2$
• Bismuth doping induced enhancement of the spin-orbit coupling strength in the prototype dilute ferromagnetic semiconductor (Ga,Mn)As: a review
• Laser patterning of the room temperature van der Waals ferromagnet 1$T$-CrTe${}_2$
• Compact pulsed laser deposition system for in-situ polarized neutron reflectometry
• Meissner Effect and Nonreciprocal Charge Transport in Non-Topological 1T-CrTe2/FeTe Heterostructures