Tunable unconventional spin orbit torque magnetization dynamics in van der Waals heterostructures
Two-dimensional quantum material heterostructures can offer a promising platform for energy-efficient non-volatile spin-based technologies. However, spin dynamics experiments to understand the basic spin-orbit torque phenomena are so far lacking. Here, we demonstrate unconventional out-of-plane magnetization dynamics, and energy-efficient and field-free spin-orbit torque switching in a van der Waals heterostructure comprising out-of-plane magnet Fe<sub>3</sub>GaTe<sub>2</sub> and topological Weyl semimetal TaIrTe<sub>4</sub>. We measured non-linear second harmonic Hall signal in TaIrTe<sub>4</sub>/Fe<sub>3</sub>GaTe<sub>2</sub> devices to evaluate the magnetization dynamics, which is characterized by large and tunable out-of-plane damping-like torque. Energy-efficient and deterministic field-free SOT magnetization switching is achieved at room temperature with a very low current density. First-principles calculations unveil the origin of the unconventional charge-spin conversion phenomena, considering the crystal symmetry and electronic structure of TaIrTe<sub>4</sub>. These results establish that van der Waals heterostructures provide a promising route to energy-efficient, field-free, and tunable spintronic devices.
Authors
- Bing Zhao (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5560-6750)
- Lars Sjöström (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0024-5011)
- Haixin Chang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9621-4457)
- Himanshu Bangar (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9489-293X)
- Aya Ali (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7006-0322)
- Roselle Ngaloy (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6177-2926)
- Mahmoud Abdel-Hafiez (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1802-5279)
- P. K. Rout (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6362-939X)
- Lalit Pandey (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5692-9394)
- Gaojie Zhang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0007-2378-058X)
- Jagoda Sławińska (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1446-1812)
- Hao Wu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9423-198X)
- Karma Tenzin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5969-8739)
- Saroj P. Dash (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7931-4843)
- Veronika Lamparská
Institutions
- Uppsala University (SE)
- University of Groningen (NL)
- University of Sharjah (AE)
- Huazhong University of Science and Technology Hospital (CN)
- Huazhong University of Science and Technology (CN)
- Royal University of Bhutan (BT)
- Fayoum University (EG)
- Chalmers University of Technology (SE)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Nature Communications
- Published
- 2025-09-30
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-64109-3
- Citations
- 4
- Primary Topic
- 2D Materials and Applications
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 2.07
Funders
- Graphene Flagship
- Rijksuniversiteit Groningen
- VINNOVA
- Chalmers Tekniska Högskola
- Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek
- Knut och Alice Wallenbergs Stiftelse
- Vetenskapsrådet
- National Key Research and Development Program of China
- HORIZON EUROPE European Innovation Council