Above-room-temperature chiral skyrmion lattice and Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction in a van der Waals ferromagnet Fe3−xGaTe2

Chenhui Zhang, Ze Jiang, Jiawei Jiang, Wa He, Junwei Zhang, Fanrui Hu, Shishun Zhao, Dongsheng Yang, Yakun Liu, Yong Peng (), Hongxin Yang () and Hyunsoo Yang ()
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Chenhui Zhang: National University of Singapore
Ze Jiang: Lanzhou University
Jiawei Jiang: Nanjing University
Wa He: Lanzhou University
Junwei Zhang: Lanzhou University
Fanrui Hu: National University of Singapore
Shishun Zhao: National University of Singapore
Dongsheng Yang: National University of Singapore
Yakun Liu: National University of Singapore
Yong Peng: Lanzhou University
Hongxin Yang: Nanjing University
Hyunsoo Yang: National University of Singapore

Nature Communications, 2024, vol. 15, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Abstract Skyrmions in existing 2D van der Waals (vdW) materials have primarily been limited to cryogenic temperatures, and the underlying physical mechanism of the Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction (DMI), a crucial ingredient for stabilizing chiral skyrmions, remains inadequately explored. Here, we report the observation of Néel-type skyrmions in a vdW ferromagnet Fe3−xGaTe2 above room temperature. Contrary to previous assumptions of centrosymmetry in Fe3−xGaTe2, the atomic-resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy reveals that the off-centered FeΙΙ atoms break the spatial inversion symmetry, rendering it a polar metal. First-principles calculations further elucidate that the DMI primarily stems from the Te sublayers through the Fert–Lévy mechanism. Remarkably, the chiral skyrmion lattice in Fe3−xGaTe2 can persist up to 330 K at zero magnetic field, demonstrating superior thermal stability compared to other known skyrmion vdW magnets. This work provides valuable insights into skyrmionics and presents promising prospects for 2D material-based skyrmion devices operating beyond room temperature.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48799-9

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