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Xu S, Zhang Y, Zang C, Liu J, Jin W, Lefkidis G, Hübner W, Li C. Unlocking Ultrafast Spin Transfer in Single-Magnetic-Center-Decorated Triangulene Systems. J Phys Chem Lett 2024; 15:3929-3937. [PMID: 38568181 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.4c00469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
Triangulene, as a typical open-shell graphene fragment, has attracted widespread attention for nanospintronics, promising to serve as building blocks in spin-logic units. Here, using ab initio calculations, we systematically study the laser-induced ultrafast spin-dynamic processes on triangulene nanoflakes, decorated with a transition-metal atom. The results reveal a competition between the induced magnetic center and the carbon edge of the triangulene, resulting in the coexistence of dual spin-density-distribution patterns on such single-magnetic-center systems, thus opening up possibilities of complex spin-dynamic scenarios beyond the spin flip. Interestingly, no matter what direction the spin points to, it is possible to achieve reversible spin-transfer processes using the same laser pulse. Increasing the pool of elementary processes to contain not only spin-direction-dependent but also spin-direction-independent scenarios allows for more versatile spin-logic operations, including classical handling of information and quantum computing. In the present work, we suggest downscaling nanospintronic devices by integrating triangulene-based nanostructures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuai Xu
- Department of Engineering Mechanics, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China
- Research & Development Institute of Northwestern Polytechnical University in Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518057, China
| | - Yiming Zhang
- Department of Engineering Mechanics, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China
- School of Science, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an 710055, China
| | - Congfei Zang
- Department of Engineering Mechanics, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China
- Research & Development Institute of Northwestern Polytechnical University in Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518057, China
| | - Jing Liu
- Institute of Theoretical Chemistry, Ulm University, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Wei Jin
- School of Physics and Information Technology, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710119, China
| | - Georgios Lefkidis
- Department of Engineering Mechanics, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China
- Department of Physics, RPTU Kaiserslautern-Landau, P.O. Box 3049, 67653 Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Hübner
- Department of Physics, RPTU Kaiserslautern-Landau, P.O. Box 3049, 67653 Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Chun Li
- Department of Engineering Mechanics, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China
- Research & Development Institute of Northwestern Polytechnical University in Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518057, China
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Ortiz Jimenez V, Pham YTH, Zhou D, Liu M, Nugera FA, Kalappattil V, Eggers T, Hoang K, Duong DL, Terrones M, Rodriguez Gutiérrez H, Phan M. Transition Metal Dichalcogenides: Making Atomic-Level Magnetism Tunable with Light at Room Temperature. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2304792. [PMID: 38072638 PMCID: PMC10870067 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202304792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Revised: 11/04/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
The capacity to manipulate magnetization in 2D dilute magnetic semiconductors (2D-DMSs) using light, specifically in magnetically doped transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) monolayers (M-doped TX2 , where M = V, Fe, and Cr; T = W, Mo; X = S, Se, and Te), may lead to innovative applications in spintronics, spin-caloritronics, valleytronics, and quantum computation. This Perspective paper explores the mediation of magnetization by light under ambient conditions in 2D-TMD DMSs and heterostructures. By combining magneto-LC resonance (MLCR) experiments with density functional theory (DFT) calculations, we show that the magnetization can be enhanced using light in V-doped TMD monolayers (e.g., V-WS2 , V-WSe2 ). This phenomenon is attributed to excess holes in the conduction and valence bands, and carriers trapped in magnetic doping states, mediating the magnetization of the semiconducting layer. In 2D-TMD heterostructures (VSe2 /WS2 , VSe2 /MoS2 ), the significance of proximity, charge-transfer, and confinement effects in amplifying light-mediated magnetism is demonstrated. We attributed this to photon absorption at the TMD layer that generates electron-hole pairs mediating the magnetization of the heterostructure. These findings will encourage further research in the field of 2D magnetism and establish a novel design of 2D-TMDs and heterostructures with optically tunable magnetic functionalities, paving the way for next-generation magneto-optic nanodevices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valery Ortiz Jimenez
- Department of PhysicsUniversity of South FloridaTampaFL33620USA
- Nanoscale Device Characterization DivisionNational Institute of Standards and TechnologyGaithersburgMD20899USA
| | | | - Da Zhou
- Department of PhysicsThe Pennsylvania State UniversityUniversity ParkPA16802USA
| | - Mingzu Liu
- Department of PhysicsThe Pennsylvania State UniversityUniversity ParkPA16802USA
| | | | | | - Tatiana Eggers
- Department of PhysicsUniversity of South FloridaTampaFL33620USA
| | - Khang Hoang
- Center for Computationally Assisted Science and Technology and Department of PhysicsNorth Dakota State UniversityFargoND58108USA
| | - Dinh Loc Duong
- Department of PhysicsMontana State UniversityBozemanMT59717USA
| | - Mauricio Terrones
- Department of PhysicsThe Pennsylvania State UniversityUniversity ParkPA16802USA
| | | | - Manh‐Huong Phan
- Department of PhysicsUniversity of South FloridaTampaFL33620USA
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Li M, He J. Terahertz Laser Pulse Boosts Interlayer Spin Transfer in Two-Dimensional van der Waals Magnetic Heterostructures. J Phys Chem Lett 2023; 14:11274-11280. [PMID: 38060526 PMCID: PMC10749471 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.3c03000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Revised: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/22/2023]
Abstract
Light-induced ultrafast dynamics in two-dimensional (2D) magnetic systems demonstrate substantial advancements in spintronics. Here, using the real-time time-dependent density functional theory (rt-TDDFT), we applied laser pulses with various frequencies, from terahertz (THz) to optical pulse, to systematically study the interlayer spin transfer dynamics in 2D van der Waals nonmagnetic-ferromagnetic heterostructures, including graphene-Fe3GeTe2 (Gr/FGT) and silicene-Fe3GeTe2 (Si/FGT). Our results demonstrate that low-frequency THz pulses are particularly effective in facilitating interlayer spin injection from the ferromagnetic FGT layers to the Si or Gr layers. On the contrary, high-frequency optical pulses exhibit a minimal influence on this process. Such an effect is attributed to the low-frequency THz pulses inducing in-phase oscillations of the electron charge density around atomic centers, leading to a highly efficient interlayer spin transfer. Our results provide a new insight into ultrafast THz radiation control intralayer spin transfer and magnetic proximity dynamics in the 2D limit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Li
- Department
of Physical and Macromolecular Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague 12843, Czech Republic
| | - Junjie He
- Department
of Physical and Macromolecular Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague 12843, Czech Republic
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Liu X, Legut D, Zhang Q. Photoinduced Ultrafast Phase Transition in Bilayer CrI 3. J Phys Chem Lett 2023; 14:7744-7750. [PMID: 37607348 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.3c01898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/24/2023]
Abstract
In two-dimensional magnets, the ultrafast photoexcited method represents a low-power and high-speed method of switching magnetic states. Bilayer CrI3 (BLC) is an ideal platform for studying ultrafast photoinduced magnetic phase transitions due to its stacking-dependent magnetic properties. Here, by using time-dependent density functional theory, we explore the photoexcitation phase transition in BLC from the R- to M-stacked phase. This process is found to be induced by electron-phonon interactions. The activated Ag and Bg phonon modes in the xy direction drive the horizontal relative displacements between the layers. The activated Ag mode in the z direction leads to a transition potential reduction. Furthermore, this phase transition can invert the sign of the interlayer spin interaction, indicating a photoinduced transition from ferromagnet to antiferromagnet. This investigation has profound implications for magnetic phase engineering strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaopeng Liu
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, P. R. China
| | - Dominik Legut
- IT4Innovations, VSB-Technical University of Ostrava, 17. listopadu 2172/15, CZ-70800 Ostrava-Poruba, Czech Republic
- Department of Condensed Matter Physics, Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Charles University, Ke Karlovu 3, 121 16 Prague 2, Czech Republic
| | - Qianfan Zhang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, P. R. China
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Zhou Z, Zheng Z, He J, Wang J, Prezhdo OV, Frauenheim T. Ultrafast Laser Control of Antiferromagnetic-Ferrimagnetic Switching in Two-Dimensional Ferromagnetic Semiconductor Heterostructures. NANO LETTERS 2023. [PMID: 37307217 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.3c01350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Realizing ultrafast control of magnetization switching is of crucial importance for information processing and recording technology. Here, we explore the laser-induced spin electron excitation and relaxation dynamics processes of CrCl3/CrBr3 heterostructures with antiparallel (AP) and parallel (P) systems. Although an ultrafast demagnetization of CrCl3 and CrBr3 layers occurs in both AP and P systems, the overall magnetic order of the heterostructure remains unchanged due to the laser-induced equivalent interlayer spin electron excitation. More crucially, the interlayer magnetic order switches from antiferromagnetic (AFM) to ferrimagnetic (FiM) in the AP system once the laser pulse disappears. The microscopic mechanism underpinning this magnetization switching is dominated by the asymmetrical interlayer charge transfer combined with a spin-flip, which breaks the interlayer AFM symmetry and ultimately results in an inequivalent shift in the moment between two FM layers. Our study opens up a new idea for ultrafast laser control of magnetization switching in two-dimensional opto-spintronic devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaobo Zhou
- Bremen Center for Computational Materials Science, University of Bremen, Bremen 28359, Germany
| | - Zhenfa Zheng
- Department of Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China
| | - Junjie He
- Department of Physical and Macromolecular Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Prague 12843, Czech Republic
| | - Jinlan Wang
- School of Physics, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, China
| | - Oleg V Prezhdo
- Departments of Chemistry, and Physics and Astronomy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089, United States
| | - Thomas Frauenheim
- School of Science, Constructor University, Bremen 28759, Germany
- Beijing Computational Science Research Center, Beijing 100193, China
- Shenzhen JL Computational Science and Applied Research Institute, Shenzhen 518109, China
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All-optical control of spin in a 2D van der Waals magnet. Nat Commun 2022; 13:5976. [PMID: 36216796 PMCID: PMC9551086 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-33343-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Two-dimensional (2D) van der Waals magnets provide new opportunities for control of magnetism at the nanometre scale via mechanisms such as strain, voltage and the photovoltaic effect. Ultrafast laser pulses promise the fastest and most energy efficient means of manipulating electron spin and can be utilized for information storage. However, little is known about how laser pulses influence the spins in 2D magnets. Here we demonstrate laser-induced magnetic domain formation and all-optical switching in the recently discovered 2D van der Waals ferromagnet CrI3. While the magnetism of bare CrI3 layers can be manipulated with single laser pulses through thermal demagnetization processes, all-optical switching is achieved in nanostructures that combine ultrathin CrI3 with a monolayer of WSe2. The out-of-plane magnetization is switched with multiple femtosecond pulses of either circular or linear polarization, while single pulses result in less reproducible and partial switching. Our results imply that spin-dependent interfacial charge transfer between the WSe2 and CrI3 is the underpinning mechanism for the switching, paving the way towards ultrafast optical control of 2D van der Waals magnets for future photomagnetic recording and device technology. The use of light in driving the magnetization of materials has great technological potential, as well as allowing for insights into the fast dynamics of magnetic systems. Here, the authors combine CrI3, a van der Waals magnet, with WSe2, and demonstrate all optical switching of the resulting heterostructure.
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