Direct correlation between spin states and magnetic torques in a room-temperature van der Waals antiferromagnet

Explorations of van der Waals (vdW) antiferromagnets have revealed new avenues for understanding the fundamentals of highly anisotropic magnetism and realizing spin-based functional properties. However, there is a serious limitation to the feasibility of spintronic applications at room temperature owing to the lack of suitable materials. In this work, we examined the anisotropic magnetic characteristics of Co-doped Fe5GeTe2, a high-T-N antiferromagnet with T-N = 350 K in which magnetic multilayers are intrinsically formed. Our spin-model calculations with uniaxial anisotropy quantify the magnetocrystalline anisotropy energy and visualize the specific spin arrangements varying in the presence of rotating magnetic fields at room temperature. We further show that the spin configurations can be profoundly relevant to the distinctive evolution of magnetic torques in different magnetic phases. Our advanced approach offers a high-T-N vdW antiferromagnet as a magnetic platform to establish room-temperature spin-processing functionalities.

Automated summary

Explorations of vdW antiferromagnets provide new insights into highly anisotropic magnetism and spin-based functional properties. However, the lack of suitable materials hinders spintronic applications at room temperature. In this study, we examined the anisotropic magnetic characteristics of Co-doped Fe5GeTe2 and showed how different spin configurations affect magnetic torques at room temperature, offering a potential magnetic platform for room-temperature spin-processing functionalities.