1T-CrO₂ monolayer: a high-temperature Dirac half-metal for high-speed spintronics

Area of Science:

• Condensed Matter Physics
• Materials Science
• Spintronics

Background:

• Two-dimensional (2D) materials are crucial for spintronics due to their unique electronic properties.
• Developing materials with complete spin-polarization, high-speed electrons, and robust ferromagnetism is essential for advanced spintronic devices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the potential of the 1T-CrO2 monolayer as a material for spintronic applications.
• To explore its electronic structure, magnetic properties, and stability.

Main Methods:

• First-principles calculations were employed to study the electronic and magnetic properties of the 1T-CrO2 monolayer.
• Analysis included band structure, density of states, and magnetic exchange interactions.

Main Results:

• The 1T-CrO2 monolayer was identified as an intrinsic 3d ferromagnetic Dirac half metal (DHM).
• It possesses two symmetry-protected Dirac cones near the Fermi level with high Fermi velocities (3.21 × 10^5 m s^-1 and 4.85 × 10^5 m s^-1).
• A substantial half-metallic gap of 2.48 eV ensures spin-flip transition prevention, and ferromagnetism is robust up to a Curie temperature of 507 K, stable under ±4% biaxial strain.

Conclusions:

• The ferromagnetic 1T-CrO2 monolayer exhibits excellent transport properties and robust ferromagnetism, making it a promising candidate for spintronics.
• Its high Curie temperature and stability suggest potential for high-temperature, high-efficiency spintronic applications.