Spin Dynamics in the van der Waals Ferromagnet CrTe2 Engineered by Niobium Doping

TL;DR

This study demonstrates that niobium doping in CrTe2 allows for tunable spin dynamics, broadening the potential for 2D ferromagnets in magnonic and quantum applications.

Contribution

It introduces a method to systematically tune spin resonance frequencies and damping in CrTe2 via Nb doping, with detailed experimental and theoretical analysis.

Findings

Nb doping shifts resonance frequency from 40 GHz to a few GHz

Damping constant increases from ~0.066 to ~0.14 with Nb content

CrTe2 flakes show lower resonance frequencies and damping than bulk

Abstract

Understanding and controlling spin dynamics in two-dimensional (2D) van der Waals (vdW) ferromagnets is essential for their application in magnonics and hybrid quantum platforms. Here, we investigate the spin dynamics of the vdW ferromagnet 1T-CrTe_{2} and demonstrate their systematic tunability via niobium (Nb) substitution in Cr_{1-x}Nb_{x}Te_{2}(x=0-0.2). Ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) spectroscopy reveals that Nb doping enables wide-band tuning of the resonance frequency from 40 GHz down to the few-GHz regime, accompanied by a moderate increase in the Gilbert damping constant from ~0.066 to ~0.14, while preserving robust room-temperature ferromagnetism. Complementary magnetometry shows a concurrent reduction of the Curie temperature and saturation magnetization with increasing Nb content. Density functional theory calculations attribute the observed spin-dynamic trends to Nb-induced modifications of magnetic anisotropy and magnetic exchange interactions. Furthermore, CrTe_{2} flakes (~80 nm thick) exhibit lower resonance frequencies and damping than bulk crystals, consistent with thickness, surface/interface, and shape-dependent magnetic anisotropy. These results establish Nb-doped CrTe_{2} as a tunable vdW ferromagnet with controllable spin dynamics, extending its functionality from spintronics to broadband magnonics and quantum magnonics.