Configurable antiferromagnetic domains and lateral exchange bias in atomically thin CrPS4
Source abstract
Abstract
Interfacial exchange coupling between antiferromagnets (AFMs) and ferromagnets (FMs) crucially makes it possible to shift the FM hysteresis, known as exchange bias, and to switch AFM states. Two-dimensional magnets unlock opportunities to combine AFM and FM materials; however, the buried AFM-FM interfaces obtained by stacking remains challenging to understand. Here we demonstrate interfacial control via intralayer exchange coupling in the layered AFM CrPS4, where connected even and odd layers realize pristine lateral interfaces between AFM-like and FM-like regions. We distinguish antiphase even-layer states by scanning nitrogen-vacancy centre magnetometry due to a weak surface magnetization. This surface magnetization enables control over the even-layer state, with different regions switching at distinct fields due to their own lateral couplings. We toggle three AFM domains adjacent to a FM-like region and demonstrate a tunable multilevel exchange bias. Our nanoscale visualization unveils the microscopic origins of exchange bias and advances single two-dimensional crystals for hybrid AFM-FM technologies.
Source: europepmc · Quality: candidate unverified · Source record ↗
Research context
OpenAlex topics: Magnetic properties of thin films · 2D Materials and Applications · Magnetic and transport properties of perovskites and related materials
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
References (61)
Show source-provided references
1. Nogués, J. & Schuller, I. K. Exchange bias. J. Magn. Magn. Mater. 192, 203–232 (1999).10.1016/S0304-8853(98)00266-2 ↗
2. Song, C. et al. How to manipulate magnetic states of antiferromagnets. Nanotechnology 29, 112001 (2018).10.1088/1361-6528/aaa812 ↗
3. Fukami, S., Zhang, C., DuttaGupta, S., Kurenkov, A. & Ohno, H. Magnetization switching by spin–orbit torque in an antiferromagnet–ferromagnet bilayer system. Nat. Mater. 15, 535–541 (2016).10.1038/nmat4566 ↗
4. Peng, S. et al. Exchange bias switching in an antiferromagnet/ferromagnet bilayer driven by spin–orbit torque. Nat. Electron. 3, 757–764 (2020).10.1038/s41928-020-00504-6 ↗
5. Kang, J. et al. Current-induced manipulation of exchange bias in IrMn/NiFe bilayer structures. Nat. Commun. 12, 6420 (2021).10.1038/s41467-021-26678-x ↗
6. Nayak, A. K. et al. Design of compensated ferrimagnetic Heusler alloys for giant tunable exchange bias. Nat. Mater. 14, 679–684 (2015).10.1038/nmat4248 ↗
7. Maniv, E. et al. Exchange bias due to coupling between coexisting antiferromagnetic and spin-glass orders. Nat. Phys. 17, 525–530 (2021).10.1038/s41567-020-01123-w ↗
8. Stiles, M. D. & McMichael, R. D. Model for exchange bias in polycrystalline ferromagnet–antiferromagnet bilayers. Phys. Rev. B 59, 3722–3733 (1999).10.1103/PhysRevB.59.3722 ↗
9. Miltényi, P. et al. Diluted antiferromagnets in exchange bias: proof of the domain state model. Phys. Rev. Lett. 84, 4224–4227 (2000).10.1103/PhysRevLett.84.4224 ↗
10. Scholl, A., Liberati, M., Arenholz, E., Ohldag, H. & Stöhr, J. Creation of an antiferromagnetic exchange spring. Phys. Rev. Lett. 92, 247201 (2004).10.1103/PhysRevLett.92.247201 ↗
11. Park, B. G. et al. A spin-valve-like magnetoresistance of an antiferromagnet-based tunnel junction. Nat. Mater. 10, 347–351 (2011).10.1038/nmat2983 ↗
12. Noah, A. et al. Tunable exchange bias in the magnetic Weyl semimetal Co3Sn2S2. Phys. Rev. B 105, 144423 (2022).10.1103/PhysRevB.105.144423 ↗
13. Zheng, G. et al. Gate-tuned interlayer coupling in van der Waals ferromagnet Fe3GeTe2 nanoflakes. Phys. Rev. Lett. 125, 047202 (2020).10.1103/PhysRevLett.125.047202 ↗
14. Gweon, H. K. et al. Exchange bias in weakly interlayer-coupled van der Waals magnet Fe3GeTe2. Nano Lett. 21, 1672–1678 (2021).10.1021/acs.nanolett.0c04434 ↗
15. Chong, S. K. et al. Intrinsic exchange biased anomalous Hall effect in an uncompensated antiferromagnet MnBi2Te4. Nat. Commun. 15, 2881 (2024).10.1038/s41467-024-46689-8 ↗
16. Chen, B. et al. Even-odd layer-dependent exchange bias effect in MnBi2Te4 Chern insulator devices. Nano Lett. 24, 8320–8326 (2024).10.1021/acs.nanolett.4c01597 ↗
17. Zhu, R. et al. Exchange bias in van der Waals CrCl3/Fe3GeTe2 heterostructures. Nano Lett. 20, 5030–5035 (2020).10.1021/acs.nanolett.0c01149 ↗
18. Albarakati, S. et al. Electric control of exchange bias effect in FePS3–Fe5GeTe2 van der Waals heterostructures. Nano Lett. 22, 6166–6172 (2022).10.1021/acs.nanolett.2c01370 ↗
19. Ying, Z. et al. Large exchange bias effect and coverage-dependent interfacial coupling in CrI3/MnBi2Te4 van der Waals heterostructures. Nano Lett. 23, 765–771 (2023).10.1021/acs.nanolett.2c02882 ↗
20. Xu, X. et al. Ferromagnetic-antiferromagnetic coexisting ground state and exchange bias effects in MnBi4Te7 and MnBi6Te10. Nat. Commun. 13, 7646 (2022).10.1038/s41467-022-35184-7 ↗
21. Phan, M.-H. et al. Exchange bias and interface-related effects in two-dimensional van der Waals magnetic heterostructures: open questions and perspectives. J. Alloy. Compd. 937, 168375 (2023).10.1016/j.jallcom.2022.168375 ↗
22. Song, T. et al. Direct visualization of magnetic domains and moiré magnetism in twisted 2D magnets. Science 374, 1140–1144 (2021).10.1126/science.abj7478 ↗
23. Li, S. et al. Observation of stacking engineered magnetic phase transitions within moiré supercells of twisted van der Waals magnets. Nat. Commun. 15, 5712 (2024).10.1038/s41467-024-49942-2 ↗
24. Thiel, L. et al. Probing magnetism in 2D materials at the nanoscale with single-spin microscopy. Science 364, 973–976 (2019).10.1126/science.aav6926 ↗
25. Tan, A. K. C. et al. Revealing emergent magnetic charge in an antiferromagnet with diamond quantum magnetometry. Nat. Mater. 23, 205–211 (2024).10.1038/s41563-023-01737-4 ↗
26. Tschudin, M. A. et al. Imaging nanomagnetism and magnetic phase transitions in atomically thin CrSBr. Nat. Commun. 15, 6005 (2024).10.1038/s41467-024-49717-9 ↗
27. Palm, M. L. et al. Observation of current whirlpools in graphene at room temperature. Science 384, 465–469 (2024).10.1126/science.adj2167 ↗
28. Sass, P. M., Kim, J., Vanderbilt, D., Yan, J. & Wu, W. Robust A-type order and spin–flop transition on the surface of the antiferromagnetic topological insulator MnBi2Te4. Phys. Rev. Lett. 125, 037201 (2020).10.1103/PhysRevLett.125.037201 ↗
29. Sun, Z. et al. Giant nonreciprocal second-harmonic generation from antiferromagnetic bilayer CrI3. Nature 572, 497–501 (2019).10.1038/s41586-019-1445-3 ↗
30. Zhong, D. et al. Layer-resolved magnetic proximity effect in van der Waals heterostructures. Nat. Nanotechnol. 15, 187–191 (2020).10.1038/s41565-019-0629-1 ↗
31. Qiu, J.-X. et al. Axion optical induction of antiferromagnetic order. Nat. Mater. 22, 583–590 (2023).10.1038/s41563-023-01493-5 ↗
32. Calder, S. et al. Magnetic structure and exchange interactions in the layered semiconductor CrPS4. Phys. Rev. B 102, 024408 (2020).10.1103/PhysRevB.102.024408 ↗
33. Peng, Y. et al. Magnetic structure and metamagnetic transitions in the van der Waals antiferromagnet CrPS4. Adv. Mater. 32, 2001200 (2020).10.1002/adma.202001200 ↗
34. Son, J. et al. Air-stable and layer-dependent ferromagnetism in atomically thin van der Waals CrPS4. ACS Nano 15, 16904–16912 (2021).10.1021/acsnano.1c07860 ↗
35. Wu, F. et al. Gate-controlled magnetotransport and electrostatic modulation of magnetism in 2D magnetic semiconductor CrPS4. Adv. Mater. 35, 2211653 (2023).10.1002/adma.202211653 ↗
36. Lee, J. et al. Structural and optical properties of single- and few-layer magnetic semiconductor CrPS4. ACS Nano 11, 10935–10944 (2017).10.1021/acsnano.7b04679 ↗
37. Huang, M. et al. Layer-dependent magnetism and spin fluctuations in atomically thin van der Waals magnet CrPS4. Nano Lett. 23, 8099–8105 (2023).10.1021/acs.nanolett.3c02129 ↗
38. Zur, Y. et al. Magnetic imaging and domain nucleation in CrSBr down to the 2D limit. Adv. Mater. 35, 2307195 (2023).10.1002/adma.202307195 ↗
39. Gao, A. et al. An antiferromagnetic diode effect in even-layered MnBi2Te4. Nat. Electron. 7, 751–759 (2024).10.1038/s41928-024-01219-8 ↗
40. Zhang, X.-Y. et al. Enhanced magnetization by defect-assisted exciton recombination in atomically thin CrCl3. Phys. Rev. Mater. 8, 104402 (2024).10.1103/PhysRevMaterials.8.104402 ↗
41. Guo, X. et al. Extraordinary phase transition revealed in a van der Waals antiferromagnet. Nat. Commun. 15, 6472 (2024).10.1038/s41467-024-50900-1 ↗
42. Jiang, S., Shan, J. & Mak, K. F. Electric-field switching of two-dimensional van der Waals magnets. Nat. Mater. 17, 406–410 (2018).10.1038/s41563-018-0040-6 ↗
43. Hedrich, N. et al. Nanoscale mechanics of antiferromagnetic domain walls. Nat. Phys. 17, 574–577 (2021).10.1038/s41567-020-01157-0 ↗
44. Makushko, P. et al. Flexomagnetism and vertically graded Néel temperature of antiferromagnetic Cr2O3 thin films. Nat. Commun. 13, 6745 (2022).10.1038/s41467-022-34233-5 ↗
45. Wörnle, M. S. et al. Coexistence of Bloch and Néel walls in a collinear antiferromagnet. Phys. Rev. B 103, 094426 (2021).10.1103/PhysRevB.103.094426 ↗
46. Hubert, A. and Schäfer, R. Magnetic Domains: The Analysis of Magnetic Microstructures, 141–142 (Springer, 1998).
47. Shi, P. et al. Magnetoresistance oscillations in vertical junctions of 2D antiferromagnetic semiconductor CrPS4. Phys. Rev. X 14, 041065 (2024).
48. Wang, Z. et al. Determining the phase diagram of atomically thin layered antiferromagnet CrCl3. Nat. Nanotechnol. 14, 1116–1122 (2019).10.1038/s41565-019-0565-0 ↗
49. Blundell, S. Magnetism in Condensed Matter, 134 (Oxford University Press, 2001).10.1093/oso/9780198505921.001.0001 ↗
50. Beckmann, B., Nowak, U. & Usadel, K. D. Asymmetric reversal modes in ferromagnetic/antiferromagnetic multilayers. Phys. Rev. Lett. 91, 187201 (2003).10.1103/PhysRevLett.91.187201 ↗
51. Ambrose, T., Sommer, R. L. & Chien, C. L. Angular dependence of exchange coupling in ferromagnet/antiferromagnet bilayers. Phys. Rev. B 56, 83–86 (1997).10.1103/PhysRevB.56.83 ↗
52. Xi, H., Kryder, M. H. & White, R. M. Study of the angular-dependent exchange coupling between a ferromagnetic and an antiferromagnetic layer. Appl. Phys. Lett. 74, 2687–2689 (1999).10.1063/1.123937 ↗
53. Liu, Z. et al. Strong lateral exchange coupling and current-induced switching in single-layer ferrimagnetic films with patterned compensation temperature. Phys. Rev. B 107, L100412 (2023).10.1103/PhysRevB.107.L100412 ↗
54. Hadjoudja, A., Garcia-Sanchez, F. & Lopez-Diaz, L. Interlayer coupled domain wall dynamics induced by external magnetic field in synthetic antiferromagnets. J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. 57, 395006 (2024).10.1088/1361-6463/ad5cfe ↗
55. Yang, S.-H., Ryu, K.-S. & Parkin, S. Domain-wall velocities of up to 750 m s−1 driven by exchange-coupling torque in synthetic antiferromagnets. Nat. Nanotechnol. 10, 221–226 (2015).10.1038/nnano.2014.324 ↗
56. Sun, Z. et al. Resolving and routing magnetic polymorphs in a 2D layered antiferromagnet. Nat. Mater. 24, 226–233 (2025).10.1038/s41563-024-02074-w ↗
57. Pellet-Mary, C. et al. Lateral exchange bias for Néel-vector control in atomically thin antiferromagnets. Preprint at http://arxiv.org/abs/2503.04922 (2025).
58. Bud’ko, S. L., Gati, E., Slade, T. J. & Canfield, P. C. Magnetic order in the van der Waals antiferromagnet CrPS4: anisotropic H–T phase diagrams and effects of pressure. Phys. Rev. B 103, 224407 (2021).10.1103/PhysRevB.103.224407 ↗
59. Beg, M., Lang, M. & Fangohr, H. Ubermag: toward more effective micromagnetic workflows. IEEE Trans. Magn. 58, 7300205 (2022).10.1109/TMAG.2021.3078896 ↗
60. Donahue, M. J. and Porter, D. G. OOMMF User’s Guide, Version 1.0, Technical Report (National Institute of Standards and Technology, 1999); https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.IR.637610.6028/NIST.IR.6376 ↗
61. Evans, R. F. L. et al. Atomistic spin model simulations of magnetic nanomaterials. J. Phys. Condens. Matter 26, 103202 (2014).10.1088/0953-8984/26/10/103202 ↗