Fe-Rich Ferromagnetic Cleavable Van der Waals Telluride Fe₅AsTe₂

Transition metal-based layered compounds with van der Waals gaps between the structural layers are a rich source of magnetic materials for spintronic applications. Bulk crystals can be cleaved, providing high-quality two-dimensional nanomaterials, which are promising for the manipulation of spins in spintronic devices and low power quantum logic interfaces. The layered van der Waals telluride Fe₅AsTe₂ can be synthesized by the high-temperature reaction of elements. In the crystal structure, Fe-rich structural layers with the composition of Fe_4.58(4)AsTe₂ are separated by the van der Waals gaps with no atoms in the interstitial region. Crystal growth employing chemical vapor transport reactions yields bulk cleavable crystals, which exhibit weak inherent ferromagnetism below the Curie temperature of T_C = 48 K. In the ordered state, the magnetization shows a dual-slope behavior in low magnetic fields, indicating the compensated or canted nature of magnetism. Magnetic susceptibility and magnetization measurements reveal perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. The large Rhodes-Wohlfarth ratio of 4.6 indicates the itinerant nature of ferromagnetism in Fe₅AsTe₂.