Evolution of Microscopic Magnetic Domains in Quasi-2D Cr0.92Te at Room Temperature

Abstract

2D materials with long-range ferromagnetic order hold promises for the development of compact spintronic devices with unprecedented multifunctionality and tunability. Among various 2D magnets, self-intercalated transition metal chalcogenides Cr_1+δTe₂ exhibit unique features, especially excellent ambient stability and intrinsic ferromagnetic ordering above room temperature, which are critical requirements for real-life device applications. Despite the many investigations of the magnetic properties of the Cr_1+δTe₂ family on the averaging macroscopic level, the domain evolution on the microscale, which is vital to nanoscale spintronics, is yet to be fully understood. Here, the evolution of magnetic behaviors of Cr_0.92Te crystals is presented on both macro- and micro-scales under magnetic field and thermal excitation. The crystal exhibits a high Curie temperature (T_c ≈ 343 K) among the Cr_1+δTe₂ family with weak magnetic anisotropy and in-plane magnetic easy axis. Utilizing magnetic force microscopy, a pristine multidomain state and typical domain-switching behavior are observed. Moreover, the evolution of domain texture under thermal excitation shows statistical power-law scaling as approaching T_c. The results provide microscopic insight into the ferromagnetic behavior of a room-temperature quasi-2D crystal, which can be useful for further engineering of domain texture in low-dimensional magnetic materials.