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Updated: Jan 3, 2026
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Fabricating van der Waals Heterostructures with Precise Rotational Alignment
Published on: July 5, 2019
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Direct observation of van der Waals stacking-dependent interlayer magnetism
Weijiong Chen1, Zeyuan Sun1, Zhongjie Wang1
1State Key Laboratory of Surface Physics, Key Laboratory of Micro and Nano Photonic Structures (MOE), Department of Physics, and Institute for Nanoelectronic Devices and Quantum Computing, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China.
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|November 23, 2019
Summary
Stacking order controls interlayer magnetism in 2D chromium tribromide (CrBr3) semiconductors. Researchers manipulated layer stacking to achieve ferromagnetic or antiferromagnetic coupling, enabling new ways to control 2D magnetism.
Area of Science:
- Solid-state physics
- Materials science
- Condensed matter physics
Background:
- Controlling crystal structure is key to tuning solid properties.
- Layer stacking in van der Waals materials influences their characteristics.
- Two-dimensional (2D) magnetic semiconductors offer novel electronic and magnetic functionalities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate stacking-dependent interlayer magnetism in chromium tribromide (CrBr3).
- To correlate atomic lattice structure with magnetic order in 2D CrBr3.
- To explore the potential for manipulating 2D magnetism via layer stacking.
Main Methods:
- Growth of monolayer and bilayer CrBr3 using molecular beam epitaxy.
- In situ spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy.
- Direct correlation of atomic lattice structure with magnetic order.
Main Results:
- Successfully grew monolayer and bilayer CrBr3.
- Observed stacking-dependent interlayer magnetism in bilayer CrBr3.
- Monolayer CrBr3 is ferromagnetic; bilayer coupling can be ferromagnetic or antiferromagnetic based on stacking.
Conclusions:
- Stacking order critically influences interlayer magnetism in 2D CrBr3.
- Layer twist angle control offers a method for manipulating 2D magnetism.
- Findings open avenues for designing novel magnetic materials and devices.
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