Observation of switchable polar skyrmion bubbles down to the atomic layers in van der Waals ferroelectric CuInP2S6

Fei Xue (), Chenhui Zhang (), Sizheng Zheng, Peiran Tong, Baoyu Wang, Yong Peng, Zhongyi Wang, Haoran Xu, Youshui He, Hongzhi Zhou, Nan Wang, Peng Han, Youyou Yuan, Yinchang Ma, Chu Huan, Senfu Zhang, Hongliang Chen, Haiming Zhu, Yang Xu, Bin Yu, Jian Sun, Hua Wang, Peng Chen, Xingsen Gao, Kai Chang, He Tian (), Jie Wang () and Xixiang Zhang ()
Additional contact information
Fei Xue: Zhejiang University
Chenhui Zhang: King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
Sizheng Zheng: Zhejiang University
Peiran Tong: Zhejiang University
Baoyu Wang: Zhejiang University
Yong Peng: Lanzhou University
Zhongyi Wang: Zhejiang University
Haoran Xu: Zhejiang University
Youshui He: Zhejiang University
Hongzhi Zhou: Zhejiang University
Nan Wang: Lanzhou University
Peng Han: Zhejiang University
Youyou Yuan: King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
Yinchang Ma: King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
Chu Huan: Zhejiang University
Senfu Zhang: Lanzhou University
Hongliang Chen: Zhejiang University
Haiming Zhu: Zhejiang University
Yang Xu: Zhejiang University
Bin Yu: Zhejiang University
Jian Sun: Central South University
Hua Wang: Zhejiang University
Peng Chen: University of Arkansas
Xingsen Gao: South China Normal University
Kai Chang: Zhejiang University
He Tian: Zhejiang University
Jie Wang: Zhejiang University
Xixiang Zhang: King Abdullah University of Science and Technology

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Abstract Polar skyrmions are topologically nontrivial polarization textures that demonstrate exotic physical phenomena and novel memory applications. Thus far, these textures have primarily been reported in oxide-ferroelectric-based epitaxial heterostructures because their stabilization requires an elastic energy penalty from the epitaxial strains. Here, without the epitaxial-strain engineering, we discover polar skyrmion bubbles in stand-alone van der Waals ferroelectric CuInP2S6 crystal through the combination of piezoelectric force microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, and phase-field simulations. In a thick CuInP2S6 flake of over −100 nm, skyrmion bubbles feature an elliptical hedgehog-like state with center-divergent or center-convergent configurations. Progressively thinning the flake thickness to −8 nm allows a topological transition from elliptical to circular skyrmionic patterns. Interestingly, the skyrmions can be switched with the change in helicity by probe-applied electrical and mechanical stimuli, which is distinct from the creation and annihilation of other reported skyrmions. Both theoretical and experimental data proves that the formation and thickness-dependence of skyrmion textures primarily stem from charge-related energy penalty. This work opens up a new material system (i.e., two-dimensional layered ferroionic materials) for exploring uncharted polar-topology physics and prospective neuromorphic devices.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-57714-9

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