Distinctive magnetic properties of CrI3 and CrBr3 monolayers caused by spin-orbit coupling

TL;DR

This paper investigates the magnetic differences between CrI3 and CrBr3 monolayers, revealing that their distinct atomic interactions with spin-orbit coupling lead to varied magnetic properties and responses to strain.

Contribution

It uncovers the fundamental differences in magnetic anisotropy and related properties between CrI3 and CrBr3 monolayers caused by their unique spin-orbit coupling mechanisms.

Findings

CrI3 and CrBr3 exhibit different magnetic anisotropies.

Their Curie temperatures differ significantly.

Magnetic behavior varies with applied strain.

Abstract

After the discovery of magnetism in monolayer CrI3, the magnetic properties of different 2D materials from the chromium-trihalide family are intuitively assumed to be similar, yielding magnetic anisotropy from the spin-orbit coupling on halide ligands. Here we reveal significant differences between the CrI3 and CrBr3 magnetic monolayers in their magnetic anisotropy, resulting Curie temperature, hysteresis in external magnetic field, and evolution of magnetism with strain, all predominantly attributed to distinctly different interplay of atomic contributions to spin-orbit coupling in two materials.