Electrical switching in a magnetically intercalated transition metal dichalcogenide

• Published in: Nature materials Vol. 19; no. 2
• Main Authors: Nair, Nityan L., Maniv, Eran, John, Caolan, Doyle, Spencer, Orenstein, J., Analytis, James G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Springer Nature - Nature Publishing Group 04.11.2019
• Subjects: electronic and spintronic devices; magnetic properties and materials; MATERIALS SCIENCE; spintronics
• ISSN: 1476-1122; 1476-4660

Advances in controlling the correlated behaviour of transition metal dichalcogenides have opened a new frontier of many-body physics in two dimensions. A field where these materials have yet to make a deep impact is antiferromagnetic spintronics-a relatively new research direction promising technologies with fast switching times, insensitivity to magnetic perturbations and reduced cross-talk. Here, we present measurements on the intercalated transition metal dichalcogenide Fe1/3NbS2 that exhibits antiferromagnetic ordering below 42 K. We find that remarkably low current densities of the order of 104 A cm-2 can reorient the magnetic order, which can be detected through changes in the sample resistance, demonstrating its use as an electronically accessible antiferromagnetic switch. Finally, Fe1/3NbS2 is part of a larger family of magnetically intercalated transition metal dichalcogenides, some of which may exhibit switching at room temperature, forming a platform from which to build tuneable antiferromagnetic spintronic devices.