Ultrathin nanosheets of CrSiTe3: A semiconducting two-dimensional ferromagnetic material

Ming Wei Lin, Houlong L. Zhuang, Jiaqiang Yan, Thomas Zac Ward, Alexander A. Puretzky, Christopher M. Rouleau, Zheng Gai, Liangbo Liang, Vincent Meunier, Bobby G. Sumpter, Panchapakesan Ganesh, Paul R.C. Kent, David B. Geohegan, David G. Mandrus, Kai Xiao

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

235 Scopus citations

Abstract

Finite range ferromagnetism and antiferromagnetism in two-dimensional (2D) systems within an isotropic Heisenberg model at non-zero temperature were originally proposed to be impossible. However, recent theoretical studies using an Ising model have shown that 2D magnetic crystals can exhibit magnetism. Experimental verification of existing 2D magnetic crystals in this system has remained exploratory. In this work we exfoliated CrSiTe3, a bulk ferromagnetic semiconductor, to mono- and few-layer 2D crystals onto a Si/SiO2 substrate. Raman spectra indicate good stability and high quality of the exfoliated flakes, consistent with the computed phonon spectra of 2D CrSiTe3, giving strong evidence for the existence of 2D CrSiTe3 crystals. When the thickness of the CrSiTe3 crystals is reduced to a few layers, we observed a clear change in resistivity at 80-120 K, consistent with theoretical calculations of the Curie temperature (Tc) of ∼80 K for the magnetic ordering of 2D CrSiTe3 crystals. The ferromagnetic mono- and few-layer 2D CrSiTe3 indicated here should enable numerous applications in nano-spintronics.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)315-322
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Materials Chemistry C
Volume4
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 2016

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Chemistry
  • Materials Chemistry

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