Magnetoelectric effect in van der Waals magnets

TL;DR

This paper reviews recent discoveries of the magnetoelectric effect in two-dimensional van der Waals magnets, highlighting their unique properties and potential applications in spintronics and optoelectronics.

Contribution

It summarizes recent advances in understanding the magnetoelectric effects specific to 2D vdW magnets and discusses future research directions and device applications.

Findings

Discovery of multiferroicity in 2D vdW magnets

Observation of spin-charge correlation and atomic ME effects

Potential for quantum heterostructures in ME device engineering

Abstract

The magnetoelectric (ME) effect is a fundamental concept in modern condensed matter physics and represents the electrical control of magnetic polarisations or vice versa. Two-dimensional (2D) van-der-Waals (vdW) magnets have emerged as a new class of materials and exhibit novel ME effects with diverse manifestations. This review emphasizes some important recent discoveries unique to vdW magnets: multiferroicity on two dimensions, spin-charge correlation, atomic ME effect and current-induced intrinsic spin-orbit torque, and electrical gating control and magnetic control of their electronic properties. We also highlight the promising route of utilizing quantum magnetic hetero- or homo-structures to engineer the ME effect and corresponding spintronic and optoelectronic device applications. Due to the intrinsic two-dimensionality, vdW magnets with those ME effects are expected to form a new, exciting research direction.