Strain Induced Robust Skyrmion lattice at Room Temperature in van der Waals Ferromagnet

TL;DR

This study demonstrates that applying minimal strain to a room-temperature 2D ferromagnet can reliably induce and stabilize skyrmion lattices, promising advances in flexible spintronic devices.

Contribution

It reveals a novel method to create and stabilize skyrmion lattices at room temperature using strain in 2D ferromagnets, with high stability and potential for flexible electronics.

Findings

Strain of ~0.80% induces skyrmion lattice formation.

Skyrmion lattice remains stable over 2000 mechanical cycles.

Stable across wide magnetic field and temperature ranges.

Abstract

Manipulating topological magnetic orders of two-dimensional (2D) magnets by strain, once achieved, offers enormous potential for future low-power flexible spintronic applications. In this work, by placing Fe3GaTe2 (FGaT), a room-temperature 2D ferromagnet, on flexible substrate, we demonstrate a field-free and robust formation of skyrmion lattice induced by strain. By applying a minimal strain of ~0.80% to pre-annealed FGaT flakes, the Magnetic Force Microscopy (MFM) tip directly triggers the transition from maze-like domains to an ordered skyrmion lattice while scanning the sample surface. The skyrmion lattice is rather stable against extensive cyclic mechanical testing (stretching, bending, and twisting over 2000 cycles each). It also exhibited stability across a wide range of magnetic fields (~2.9 kOe) and temperatures (~ 323 K), as well as long-term retention stability, highlighting its robustness and field free stabilization. The strain effect reduces the lattice symmetry and enhances the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction (DMI) of FGaT, thus stabilizing the skyrmion lattice. Our findings highlight the potential of FGaT for integrating magnetic skyrmions into future low-power-consumption flexible spintronics devices.