Bilayer orthogonal ferromagnetism in CrTe2-based van der Waals system
Systems with pronounced spin anisotropy are pivotal in advancing magnetization switching and spin-wave generation mechanisms that are fundamental to spintronic technologies. Quasi-van der Waals ferromagnets like Cr<sub>1+δ</sub>Te<sub>2</sub> represent seminal materials in this field, renowned for their delicate balance between frustrated layered geometries and magnetism. Despite extensive investigation, the nature of their magnetic ground state and the mechanism of spin reorientation under external fields and varying temperatures remain contested. Here, we exploit complementary techniques to reveal a previously overlooked magnetic phase in Cr<sub>1+δ</sub>Te<sub>2</sub> (δ = 0.25 - 0.50), which we term orthogonal-ferromagnetism. This phase consists of atomically sharp single layers of in-plane and out-of-plane maximally canted ferromagnetic blocks, which differs from the stacking of multiple heterostructural elements required for crossed magnetism. Contrary to earlier reports of gradual spin reorientation in CrTe<sub>2</sub>-based systems, we present evidence for abrupt spin-flop-like transitions. This discovery further highlights Cr<sub>1+δ</sub>Te<sub>2</sub> compounds as promising candidates for spintronic and orbitronic applications, opening new pathways for device engineering.
Authors
- Oliver J. Clark (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3092-9465)
- Matthieu Jamet (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8247-4677)
- Mario Cuoco (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7325-8331)
- Chiara Bigi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0977-3993)
- Thomas Olsen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6256-9284)
- Anupam Jana (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2967-9315)
- T. Jaouen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5844-5385)
- Alessandro De Vita
- F. Bertran (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2416-0514)
- Sandeep Kumar Chaluvadi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3689-3336)
- Mats Leandersson
- Federico Mazzola (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5380-4374)
- Vincent Polewczyk (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0932-6376)
- C. Jego
- P. Orgiani (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1082-9651)
- T. Balasubramanian (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2156-5794)
- Jill A. Miwa (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8392-2630)
- Patrick Le Fèvre (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9800-8059)
- Pascal Turban (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9636-767X)
- Hulerich Camel Tchouekem
- Younghun Hwang
- Jean‐François Jacquot
Institutions
- Ulsan College (KR)
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
- University of Salerno (IT)
- Ca' Foscari University of Venice (IT)
- Lund University (SE)
- Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines (FR)
- Aarhus University (DK)
- Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives (FR)
- Université Paris-Saclay (FR)
- Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society (DE)
- Synchrotron soleil (FR)
- CEA Grenoble (FR)
- Institut de Recherche Interdisciplinaire de Grenoble (FR)
- Superconducting and other Innovative Materials and Devices Institute (IT)
- Istituto Officina dei Materiali (IT)
- Institut de Physique de Rennes (FR)
- Spintronique et Technologie des Composants (FR)
- MAX IV Laboratory (SE)
- Technische Universität Berlin (DE)
- Université de Rennes (FR)
- Monash University (AU)
- Université Grenoble Alpes (FR)
- Technical University of Denmark (DK)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Nature Communications
- Published
- 2025-05-14
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59266-4
- Citations
- 8
- Primary Topic
- 2D Materials and Applications
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 4.14
Funders
- Equipex
- European Commission
- National Research Foundation
- Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
- Agence Nationale de la Recherche
- VINNOVA
- Svenska Forskningsrådet Formas
- National Research Foundation of Korea
- Ministry of Education, Science and Technology
- Max-Planck-Gesellschaft
- Vetenskapsrådet
- DanScatt