Multi-state Data Storage in a Two-dimensional Stripy Antiferromagnet Implemented by Magnetoelectric Effect

Abstract

A promising approach to the next generation of low-power, functional, and energy-efficient electronics relies on novel materials with coupled magnetic and electric degrees of freedom. In particular, stripy antiferromagnets often exhibit broken crystal and magnetic symmetries, which may bring about the magnetoelectric (ME) effect and enable the manipulation of intriguing properties and functionalities by electrical means. The demand for expanding the boundaries of data storage and processing technologies has led to the development of spintronics toward two-dimensional (2D) platforms. This work reports the ME effect in the 2D stripy antiferromagnetic insulator CrOCl down to a single layer. By measuring the tunneling resistance of CrOCl on the parameter space of temperature, magnetic field, and applied voltage, we verified the ME coupling down to the 2D limit and unraveled its mechanism. Utilizing the multi-stable states and ME coupling at magnetic phase transitions, we realize multi-state data storage in the tunneling devices. Our work not only advances the fundamental understanding of spin-charge coupling, but also demonstrates the great potential of 2D antiferromagnetic materials to deliver devices and circuits beyond the traditional binary operations.

Manipulating Moiré Excitons in Two-Dimensional Quantum Systems via Optical Microcavities

“…We introduce ∆𝜌 xx as a variable with units of Bohr radius. The interaction energy, Exx, can be computed numerically as a function of ∆𝜌 xx using formula (2). We calculated the interaction energy for both parallel and antiparallel configurations (as shown in Table 1).…”

“…Recently, twisted-angle transition metal dichalcogenide (TMDC) materials have emerged as a promising platform for investigating the many-body properties of excitons. In the twodimensional limit, the enhanced coulomb interaction allows for better observation of the intrinsic exciton properties [1][2][3][4][5] . Lattice mismatch and twist angles in heterobilayer structures give rise to interfacial moiré superlattices [6][7][8] , which can dramatically alter the electronic band structure of two-dimensional materials, leading to the formation of flat mini-bands 9,10 and inducing novel quantum phenomena such as strongly correlated insulators 11,12 , moiré excitons [13][14][15][16] , and wigner crystals [17][18][19] .…”

Realization of 2D Multiferroic with Strong Magnetoelectric Coupling by Intercalation: A First-principles High-throughput Prediction

“…This kind of ME coupling could be used to develop new-generation memory devices in which data can be written electrically and read magnetically, avoiding the drawback of high writing energy in conventional magnetic random-access memory. [8][9][10] Depending on the microscopic FE mechanism, multiferroic materials can be divided into two categories, i.e., type-I and type-II. In type-I multiferroics, the ferroelectricity and magnetism originate from different atoms.…”

Spin‐Lattice Coupled Metamagnetism in Frustrated van der Waals Magnet CrOCl

“…[ 18–20 ] Nevertheless, to fully unfold the intricate interplay between magnetic ordering and crystalline phases, frustrated magnets with van der Waals (vdW) layered structures provide a more viable playground, which allows for dimensionality control as well as devices engineering of complex heterostructures with other 2D materials. [ 21,22 ]…”

“…[18][19][20] Nevertheless, to fully unfold the intricate interplay between magnetic ordering and crystalline phases, frustrated magnets with van der Waals (vdW) layered structures provide a more viable playground, which allows for dimensionality control as well as devices engineering of complex heterostructures with other 2D materials. [21,22] CrOCl is a promising vdW antiferromagnetic (AFM) semiconductor (band gap of ≈ 2.3 eV) with inherent magnetic frustration rooted in the unique staggered square lattice. As schemed in Figure 1a, ML CrOCl can be viewed as a CrO double layer sandwiched by two halogen atomic layers.…”