Submonolayer Eu superstructures—A class of 2D magnets

Two-dimensional(2D)magnetic materials promise unconventional properties and quantum phases as well as advances in ultracompact spintronics.Miniaturization of 2D magnets often reaches a single monolayer but in general can go beyond this limit,as demonstrated by 2D magnetism of submonolayer Eu superstructures coupled with Si.The question is whether the submonolayer magnetism constitutes a general phenomenon.Herein,we demonstrate that regular Eu lattices form a class of 2D magnets displaying various structures,stoichiometries,and chemical bonding.We synthesized and studied a set of Eu superstructures on Ge(001).Their magnetic properties are consistent with the emergence of a magnetic order such as ferro-or ferrimagnetism.In particular,control over the magnetic transition temperature by weak magnetic fields indicates the 2D nature of the magnetism.Taken together,Eu/Ge and Eu/Si superstructures seed a nucleus of the research area addressing the emergence of magnetism in submonolayer chemical species.

A class of high-mobility layered nanomaterials by design

Design of materials with particular functional properties is indispensable albeit very challenging.Chemical and structural analogies can be helpful in this endeavor,especially when a particular combination of properties is sought after.Our aim is to bundle together 3 characteristics:high carrier mobility,magnetism,and scalability to nanomaterials in the form of a film–such a combination is particularly advantageous for spintronics.Here,inspired by recent studies of MAl_(2)Si_(2)and related compounds,we develop magnetic EuAl_(2)Ge_(2)and non-magnetic SrAl_(2)Ge_(2)nanomaterials with high carrier mobility.Topotactic syntheses employing sacrificial 2D templates result in epitaxial films of MAl_(2)Ge_(2)seamlessly integrated with germanium.The syntheses are followed by a study of the atomic structure,magnetic and electron transport properties.In particular,the films demonstrate high carrier mobility,exceeding 10,000 cm^(2)V^(-1)s^(-1)in the case of EuAl_(2)Ge_(2),making the materials appealing for applications.Taken together,MAl_(2)Ge_(2)and MAl_(2)Si_(2)form a class of high-mobility layered nanomaterials.

Emerging 2D magnetic states in a graphene-based monolayer of EuC_(6)

Recent discoveries of intrinsic two-dimensional(2D)magnets open up vast opportunities to address fundamental problems in condensed matter physics,giving rise to applications from ultra-compact spintronics to quantum computing.The ever-growing material landscape of 2D magnets lacks,however,carbon-based systems,prominent in other areas of 2D research.Magnetization measurements of the Eu/graphene compound-a monolayer of the EuC_(6) stoichiometry-reveal the emergence of 2D ferromagnetism but detailed studies of competing magnetic states are still missing.Here,we employ element-selective X-ray absorption spectroscopy(XAS)and magnetic circular dichroism(XMCD)to establish the magnetic structure of monolayer EuC6.The system exhibits the anomalous Hall effect,negative magnetoresistance,and magnetization consistent with a ferromagnetic state but the saturation magnetic moment(about 2.5/%/Eu)is way too low for the half-filled f-shells of Eu^(2+)ions.Combined XAS/XMCD studies at the Eu L3 absorption edge probe the EuC6 magnetism in high fields and reveal the nature of the missing magnetic moments.The results are set against XMCD studies in Eu/silicene and Eu/germanene to establish monolayer EuC6 as a prominent member of the family of Eu-based 2D magnets combining the celebrated graphene properties with a strong magnetism of europium.

Competing magnetic states in silicene and germanene 2D ferromagnets

Two-dimension(2D)magnets have recently developed into a class of stoichiometric materials with prospective applications in ultra-compact spintronics and quantum computing.Their functionality is particularly rich when different magnetic orders are competing in the same material.Metalloxenes REX2(RE=Eu,Gd;X=Si,Ge),silicene or germanene—heavy counterparts of graphene—coupled with a layer of rare-earth metals,evolve from three-dimension(3D)antiferromagnets in multilayer structures to 2D ferromagnets in a few monolayers.This evolution,however,does not lead to fully saturated 2D ferromagnetism,pointing at a possibility of coexisting/competing magnetic states.Here,REX2 magnetism is explored with element-selective X-ray magnetic circular dichroism(XMCD).The measurements are carried out for GdSi2,EuSi2,GdGe2,and EuGe2 of different thicknesses down to 1 monolayer employing K absorption edges of Si and Ge as well as M and L edges of the rare-earths.They access the magnetic state in REX2 and determine the seat of magnetism,orbital,and spin contributions to the magnetic moment.High-field measurements probe remnants of the bulk antiferromagnetism in 2D REX2.The results provide a new platform for studies of complex magnetic structures in 2D materials.