Manipulating Ferromagnetism in Few-Layered Cr2 Ge2 Te6

Adv Mater. 2021 Aug;33(31):e2008586. doi: 10.1002/adma.202008586. Epub 2021 Jun 25.

Abstract

The discovery of magnetism in 2D materials offers new opportunities for exploring novel quantum states and developing spintronic devices. In this work, using field-effect transistors with solid ion conductors as the gate dielectric (SIC-FETs), we have observed a significant enhancement of ferromagnetism associated with magnetic easy-axis switching in few-layered Cr2 Ge2 Te6 . The easy axis of the magnetization, inferred from the anisotropic magnetoresistance, can be uniformly tuned from the out-of-plane direction to an in-plane direction by electric field in the few-layered Cr2 Ge2 Te6 . Additionally, the Curie temperature, obtained from both the Hall resistance and magnetoresistance measurements, increases from 65 to 180 K in the few-layered sample by electric gating. Moreover, the surface of the sample is fully exposed in the SIC-FET device configuration, making further heterostructure-engineering possible. This work offers an excellent platform for realizing electrically controlled quantum phenomena in a single device.

Keywords: Cr 2Ge 2Te 6; electrical control of ferromagnetism; field-effect transistors with solid ion conductor; heterostuctures.