Tailoring composite skyrmionic spin textures in an above-room-temperature ferromagnet Fe3-xGaTe2

TL;DR

This study demonstrates the controlled creation and evolution of room-temperature skyrmionic spin textures in Fe3-xGaTe2, revealing topological transitions and pathways for potential spintronics applications.

Contribution

It introduces a model for the stepwise evolution of topological spin textures and achieves controllable realization of skyrmion-based states at room temperature.

Findings

Observation of stripe, skyrmionium, and skyrmion sack states.

Identification of topological and trivial transitions during texture evolution.

Controlled stabilization of skyrmion textures via magnetic field and DMI tuning.

Abstract

Realizing room-temperature tunable skyrmionic objects in van der Waals ferromagnet offers unparalleled prospects for future spintronics. Here, we report an experimental investigation on the emergence and evolution of skyrmionic spin textures in the non-stoichiometric Fe3-xGaTe2 using magnetic force microscopy. The iron-deficiency-specific magnetic states of stripe, striped skyrmionium and striped skyrmion sack are observed. Through zero-field-cooling and field-cooling measurements, we observed distinct topological transitions and trivial transitions (distinguished by changes in topological charge) emerging during the stepwise evolution of topological spin textures, which enabled us to develop an evolution pathway model. Leveraging this model, the room-temperature stable composite topological spin textures of skyrmionium, skyrmion bag and sack states are further controllably realized via the exclusive topological-transition path (regulated by magnetic field and DMI intensity). Our work provides valuable insights into the room-temperature realization of topological spin textures in Fe3-xGaTe2, and inspires further exploration of their potential applications in heterostructure spintronics.