Controllable dimensionality conversion between 1D and 2D CrCl₃ magnetic nanostructures

Area of Science:

• Condensed Matter Physics
• Materials Science
• Surface Science

Background:

• Fabricating one-dimensional (1D) magnetic systems from two-dimensional (2D) layers is challenging.
• Achieving a crossover between 2D magnetic layers and 1D spin chains on surfaces remains an open area of research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report the successful fabrication of 1D CrCl₃ atomic wires on a vdW superconductor.
• To investigate the magnetic and electronic properties of these novel 1D structures.
• To explore the phase transformation between 1D and 2D CrCl₃.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of 1D single-unit-cell-width CrCl₃ atomic wires and few-wire arrays.
• Utilizing scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy (STM/S).
• Performing first-principles calculations.

Main Results:

• Successfully fabricated 1D CrCl₃ wires and arrays on NbSe₂.
• Identified a novel antiferromagnetic, large-bandgap semiconducting state in the 1D phase, differing from the 2D CrCl₃.
• Demonstrated the transformability between 1D and 2D CrCl₃ phases via in situ or ex situ manipulation.
• Highlighted the role of vdW interface electronic interactions in regulating dimensionality and structural transformations.

Conclusions:

• The study presents a new method for creating 1D magnetic systems.
• The discovered 1D CrCl₃ phase offers unique magnetic and electronic properties.
• Interface engineering provides a pathway for controlling dimensionality and phase transitions in van der Waals heterostructures.