Modulating Curie Temperature and Magnetic Anisotropy in Nanoscale-Layered Cr2Te3 Films: Implications for Room-Temperature Spintronics

Nanoscale-layered ferromagnets have demonstrated fascinating two-dimensional magnetism down to atomic layers, providing a peculiar playground of spin orders for investigating fundamental physics and spintronic applications. However, the strategy for growing films with designed magnetic properties is not well established yet. Herein, we present a versatile method to control the Curie temperature (T-C) and magnetic anisotropy during the growth of ultrathin Cr2Te3 films. We demonstrate an increase of the TC from 165 to 310 K in sync with magnetic anisotropy switching from an out-of-plane orientation to an in-plane one, respectively, via controlling the Te source flux during film growth, leading to different c-lattice parameters while preserving the stoichiometries and thicknesses of the films. We attributed this modulation of magnetic anisotropy to the switching of the orbital magnetic moment, using X-ray magnetic circular dichroism analysis. We also inferred that different c-lattice constants might be responsible for the magnetic anisotropy change, supported by theoretical calculations. These findings emphasize the potential of ultrathin Cr2Te3 films as candidates for developing room-temperature spintronics applications, and similar growth strategies could be applicable to fabricate other nanoscale layered magnetic compounds.

Automated summary

This study presents a versatile method to control the Curie temperature and magnetic anisotropy during the growth of ultrathin Cr2Te3 films. By manipulating the tellurium source flux, the Curie temperature can be increased and magnetic anisotropy can be switched, leading to different magnetic properties for potential spintronics applications at room temperature.