Field-Free Spin–Orbit Torque Switching in Janus Chromium Dichalcogenides
We predict a very large spin-orbit torque (SOT) capability of magnetic chromium-based transition-metal dichalcogenide (TMD) monolayers in their Janus forms CrXTe, with X = S, Se. The structural inversion symmetry breaking, inherent to Janus structures is responsible for a large SOT response generated by giant Rashba splitting, equivalent to that obtained by applying a transverse electric field of ∼100 V nm<sup>-1</sup> in non-Janus CrTe<sub>2</sub>, completely out of experimental reach. By performing transport simulations on carefully derived Wannier tight-binding models, Janus systems are found to exhibit an SOT performance comparable to the most efficient two-dimensional materials, while additionally allowing for field-free perpendicular magnetization switching, due to their reduced in-plane symmetry. Altogether, our findings evidence that magnetic Janus TMDs stand as suitable candidates for ultimate SOT-MRAM devices in an ultracompact self-induced SOT scheme.
Authors
- Fatima Ibrahim (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7374-6001)
- Aurélien Manchon (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4768-293X)
- Stephan Roche (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0323-4665)
- Mairbek Chshiev (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9232-7622)
- Joaquín Medina Dueñas (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9292-8505)
- Libor Vojáček (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9867-0592)
- José H. García (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5752-4759)
- Jing Li (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9283-3821)
Institutions
- Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ES)
- Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (ES)
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
- Institut Universitaire de France (FR)
- Aix-Marseille Université (FR)
- Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives (FR)
- CEA Grenoble (FR)
- Institut Català de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia (ES)
- Spintronique et Technologie des Composants (FR)
- Laboratoire d'Électronique des Technologies de l'Information (FR)
- Université Grenoble Alpes (FR)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Nano Letters
- Published
- 2024-09-13
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.nanolett.4c03029
- Citations
- 9
- Primary Topic
- Magnetic properties of thin films
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 3.04
Funders
- Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades
- Generalitat de Catalunya
- Grand Équipement National De Calcul Intensif
- European Research Council
- European Regional Development Fund
- Agencia Estatal de Investigación
- H2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions