Multiferroicity in two dimensional Co2Cl2 monolayer

Abstract Multiferroicity has been studied for about 70 years and resurging recently due to rapid experimental and theoretical advances. However, two-dimensional ferromagnetic-ferroelastic multiferroicity, which is crucial to magneto-elastic nanodevices, is still very rare. Here, we propose that the...

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Main Authors: Xinlong Yang, Ziyu Hu, Xiaohong Shao, Fawei Zheng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Communications Materials
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s43246-025-00855-7
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Summary:Abstract Multiferroicity has been studied for about 70 years and resurging recently due to rapid experimental and theoretical advances. However, two-dimensional ferromagnetic-ferroelastic multiferroicity, which is crucial to magneto-elastic nanodevices, is still very rare. Here, we propose that the Co2Cl2 monolayer exhibits ferromagnetic-ferroelastic multiferroicity. The system has two asymmetric phases: FE-I, a metallic ferromagnetic phase, and FE-II, a semiconducting antiferromagnetic phase, which can be switched by strain. We show that Co2Cl2 monolayers undergo both metal-insulator and ferromagnetism-antiferromagnetism transitions due to the different crystal fields surrounding Co2+ ions. Interestingly, both the ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic phases exhibit high critical temperatures, making this material promising for device applications.
ISSN:2662-4443