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Voltage-driven topological spin phase transitions in monolayer NiI2
Yufei Xue1, Jinyang Ni1, Yang Zhang1
1MOE Key Laboratory for Non-equilibrium Synthesis and Modulation of Condensed Matter, Shaanxi Province Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Materials and Mesoscopic Physics, School of Physics, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710049, China. jyni@xjtu.edu.cn.
Nanoscale Horizons
|July 17, 2026
Summary
Researchers demonstrate electrical control of magnetic topological phases in monolayer NiI2. Applied voltage reversibly switches between skyrmion and labyrinthine states, paving the way for low-energy spintronics.
Area of Science:
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Materials Science
- Spintronics
Background:
- Electrical control of magnetism is crucial for energy-efficient spintronic devices.
- Achieving voltage-driven topological phase transitions in centrosymmetric materials is challenging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose a field-free strategy for electrical control of topological spin textures.
- To investigate voltage-induced phase transitions in monolayer NiI2.
Main Methods:
- First-principles calculations.
- Tight-binding model analysis.
- Monte Carlo simulations.
Main Results:
- Applied voltage tunes Kitaev anisotropy and Heisenberg exchange frustration in NiI2.
- Electrical modulation drives a reversible transition between skyrmion and labyrinthine states.
- Spin frustration and anisotropic interactions stabilize topological defects.
Conclusions:
- A novel electrical method for manipulating topological spin phases is presented.
- This approach offers a nonvolatile pathway for controlling magnetic states.
- The findings contribute to the development of next-generation spintronic technologies.
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