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  • Two-dimensional Dirac spin-gapless semiconductors with tunable perpendicular magnetic anisotropy and a robust quantum anomalous Hall effect
Title: Two-dimensional Dirac spin-gapless semiconductors with tunable perpendicular magnetic anisotropy and a robust quantum anomalous Hall effect
A major recent breakthrough in materials science is the emergence of intrinsic magnetism in two-dimensional (2D) crystals, which opens the door to more cutting-edge fields in the 2D family and could eventually lead to novel data-storage and information devices with further miniaturization. Herein we propose an experimentally feasible 2D material, Fe 2 I 2 , which is an intrinsic room-temperature ferromagnet exhibiting perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA). Using first-principles calculations, we demonstrate that single-layer (SL) Fe 2 I 2 is a spin-gapless semiconductor with a spin-polarized Dirac cone and linear energy dispersion in one spin channel, exhibiting promising dissipation-less transport properties with a Fermi velocity up to 6.39 × 10 5 m s −1 . Our results reveal that both strain and ferroelectric polarization switching could induce an out-of- to in-plane spin reorientation in the 2D Fe 2 I 2 layer, revealing its advantage in assembling spintronic devices. In addition, spin–orbit coupling (SOC) triggers a topologically nontrivial band gap of 301 meV with a nonzero Chern number (| C | = 2), giving rise to a robust quantum anomalous Hall (QAH) state. The 2D crystal also exhibits high carrier mobilites of 0.452 × 10 3 and 0.201 × 10 3 cm 2 V −1 s −1 for the electrons and holes, respectively. The combination of these unique properties renders the 2D Fe 2 I 2 ferromagnet a promising platform for high efficiency multi-functional spintronic applications.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
1828019
PAR ID:
10226260
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ;
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Materials Horizons
Volume:
7
Issue:
8
ISSN:
2051-6347
Page Range / eLocation ID:
2071 to 2077
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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