Electric Field Control of Magnetic Skyrmion Helicity in a Centrosymmetric 2D van der Waals Magnet

Han, Myung-Geun; Thomsen, Joachim Dahl; Philbin, John P.; Mun, Junsik; Park, Eugene; Camino, Fernando; Děkanovský, Lukáš; Liu, Chuhang; Sofer, Zdeněk; Narang, Prineha; Ross, Frances M.; Zhu, Yimei

doi:10.1021/acs.nanolett.4c06200

Electric Field Control of Magnetic Skyrmion Helicity in a Centrosymmetric 2D van der Waals Magnet

Journal Article · Tue Mar 11 00:00:00 EDT 2025 · Nano Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.nanolett.4c06200· OSTI ID:2566966

^[1]; Thomsen, Joachim Dahl ^[2]; ^[3]; ^[1]; Park, Eugene ^[4]; Camino, Fernando ^[5]; Děkanovský, Lukáš ^[6]; Liu, Chuhang ^[7]; Sofer, Zdeněk ^[6]; ^[3]; ^[4]; ^[1]

Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)
Massachusetts Inst. of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA (United States); Univ. of California, Los Angeles, CA (United States)
Univ. of California, Los Angeles, CA (United States)
Massachusetts Inst. of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA (United States)
Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States). Center for Functional Nanomaterials (CFN)
University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague (Czech Republic)
Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States); Stony Brook Univ., NY (United States)

Two-dimensional van der Waals magnets hosting topological magnetic textures, such as skyrmions, show promise for spintronics and quantum computing. Electrical control of these topological spin textures is crucial for enhancing operational performance and functionality. Here, using electron microscopy combined with in situ electric and magnetic biasing, we show that the skyrmion helicity in insulating Cr₂Ge₂Te₆ can be controlled by the direction of the external electric field applied during the field cooling process. The electric field-tuned helicity remains stable at low temperature, even amid variations in magnetic and electric fields. Our theoretical investigation reveals that nonzero Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interactions between nearest neighbors, induced by the electric field, change their sign upon reversing the electric field direction, thereby facilitating helicity selection. The electrical control of magnetic helicity demonstrated in this study can be extended to other centrosymmetric skyrmion-hosting magnets, paving the way for future device designs in topological spintronics and quantum computing.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Materials Sciences & Engineering Division (MSE); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Scientific User Facilities (SUF)

Grant/Contract Number:: SC0012704; SC0022277

OSTI ID:: 2566966

Report Number(s):: BNL--228200-2025-JAAM

Journal Information:: Nano Letters, Journal Name: Nano Letters Journal Issue: 13 Vol. 25; ISSN 1530-6984

Publisher:: American Chemical SocietyCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Figures / Tables (4)

Fig. 1| Heterostructure of FLG/Cr₂Ge₂Te₆ (CGT)/FLG for in situ biasing experiments and random helicity in skyrmionic bubbles(p. 20)

Fig. 1| Heterostructure of FLG/Cr2Ge2Te6 (CGT)/FLG for in situ biasing experiments and random helicity in skyrmionic bubbles

Fig. 2| Electric field control of helicity in skyrmionic bubbles.(p. 21)

Fig. 3| DMI vector patterns under external electric fields(p. 22)

Fig. 4| Helicity-selected bubble formation under field cooling(p. 23)

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75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interactions
electric field control
skyrmion helicity
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Electric Field Control of Magnetic Skyrmion Helicity in a Centrosymmetric 2D van der Waals Magnet

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