Room temperature 2D ferromagnetism in few-layered 1$T$-CrTe$_{2}$

TL;DR

This paper reports the discovery of intrinsic ferromagnetism in few-layer 1$T$-CrTe$_{2}$ that persists up to 316 K, highlighting its potential for room temperature 2D spintronic applications.

Contribution

It demonstrates room temperature ferromagnetism in 2D CrTe$_{2}$, a significant advancement for 2D vdW magnetic materials and spintronics.

Findings

Ferromagnetic order persists up to 316 K in few-layer CrTe$_{2}$

Negative anisotropic magnetoresistance observed at 300 K

Sign change in AMR from negative at room temperature to positive at 10 K

Abstract

Spin-related electronics using two dimensional (2D) van der Waals (vdW) materials as a platform are believed to hold great promise for revolutionizing the next generation spintronics. Although many emerging new phenomena have been unravelled in 2D electronic systems with spin long-range orderings, the scarcely reported room temperature magnetic vdW material has thus far hindered the related applications. Here, we show that intrinsic ferromagnetically aligned spin polarization can hold up to 316 K in a metallic phase of 1$T$-CrTe$_{2}$ in the few-layer limit. This room temperature 2D long range spin interaction may be beneficial from an itinerant enhancement. Spin transport measurements indicate an in-plane room temperature negative anisotropic magnetoresistance (AMR) in few-layered CrTe$_{2}$, but a sign change in the AMR at lower temperature, with -0.6$\%$ at 300 K and +5$\%$ at 10 K, respectively. This behavior may originate from the specific spin polarized band structure of CrTe$_{2}$. Our findings provide insights into magnetism in few-layered CrTe$_{2}$, suggesting potential for future room temperature spintronic applications of such 2D vdW magnets.