Spontaneous magnetic skyrmions in single-layer CrInX3(X=Te, Se)

TL;DR

This paper reports the discovery of spontaneous Neel-type magnetic skyrmions in single-layer CrInX3 (X=Te, Se) using first-principles and Monte Carlo simulations, revealing stable skyrmions at elevated temperatures without external magnetic fields.

Contribution

It is the first to identify intrinsic magnetic skyrmions in 2D CrInX3 monolayers, highlighting their stability and properties under various magnetic parameters.

Findings

Skyrmions are stable at temperatures up to 180 K.

Large Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction induces Neel-type skyrmions.

Skyrmion size is sub-10 nm in CrInTe3.

Abstract

The realization of magnetic skyrmions in nanostructures holds great promise for both fundamental research and device applications. Despite recent progress, intrinsic magnetic skyrmions in two-dimensional lattice are still rarely explored. Here, using first-principles calculations and Monte-Carlo simulations, we report the identification of spontaneous magnetic skyrmions in single-layer CrInX3 (X = Te, Se). Due to the joint effect of broken inversion symmetry and strong spin-orbit coupling, inherent large Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction occurs in both systems, endowing the intriguing Neel-type skyrmions in the absence of magnetic field. By further imposing moderate magnetic field, the skyrmion phase can be obtained and is stable within a wide temperature range. Particularly for single-layer CrInTe3, the size of skyrmions is sub-10 nm and the skyrmion phase can be maintained at an elevated temperature of 180 K. In addition, the phase diagrams of their topological spin textures under the variation of magnetic parameters of D, J, and K are mapped out. Our results greatly enrich the research of 2D skyrmionics physics.