Tunable Magnetic Transition to a Singlet Ground State in a 2D van der Waals Layered Trimerized Kagomé Magnet
Incorporating magnetism into two-dimensional (2D) van der Waals (vdW) heterostructures is crucial for the development of functional electronic and magnetic devices. Here, we show that Nb3X8 (X = Cl, Br) is a family of 2D layered trimerized kagomé magnets that are paramagnetic at high temperatures and undergo a first-order phase transition on cooling to a singlet magnetic state. X-ray diffraction shows that a rearrangement of the vdW stacking accompanies the magnetic transition, with high- and low-temperature phases consistent with scanning transmission electron microscopy images of the end members α-Nb3Cl8 and β-Nb3Br8. The temperature of this transition is systematically varied across the solid solution Nb3Cl8–xBrx (x = 0–8), with x = 6 having transitions near room temperature. Furthermore, the solid solution also varies the optical properties, which are further modulated by the phase transition. As such, they provide a platform on which to understand and exploit the interplay between dimensionality, magnetism, and optoelectronic behavior in vdW materials.
- Research Organization:
- Johns Hopkins Univ., Baltimore, MD (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Materials Sciences & Engineering Division
- Grant/Contract Number:
- SC0019331
- OSTI ID:
- 1811921
- Journal Information:
- ACS Nano, Vol. 13, Issue 8; ISSN 1936-0851
- Publisher:
- American Chemical Society (ACS)Copyright Statement
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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