Magnetic Order and Its Interplay with Structure Phase Transition in van der Waals Ferromagnet VI$_{3}$
Yiqing Hao1†, Yiqing Gu1,2†, Yimeng Gu1,2, Erxi Feng3, Huibo Cao3, Songxue Chi3, Hua Wu4,1,2, and Jun Zhao1,2,5,6*
1State Key Laboratory of Surface Physics, and Department of Physics, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China 2Shanghai Qi Zhi Institute, Shanghai 200232, China 3Neutron Scattering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, USA 4Laboratory for Computational Physical Sciences (MOE), Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China 5Institute of Nanoelectronics and Quantum Computing, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China 6 Shanghai Research Center for Quantum Sciences, Shanghai 201315, China
Abstract：Van der Waals magnet VI$_{3}$ demonstrates intriguing magnetic properties that render it great for use in various applications. However, its microscopic magnetic structure has not been determined yet. Here, we report neutron diffraction and susceptibility measurements in VI$_{3}$ that revealed a ferromagnetic order with the moment direction tilted from the $c$-axis by $\sim $$36^{\circ}$ at 4 K. A spin reorientation accompanied by a structure distortion within the honeycomb plane is observed, before the magnetic order completely disappears at $T_{\rm C} = 50$ K. The refined magnetic moment of $\sim $$1.3 \mu_{\scriptscriptstyle {\rm B}}$ at 4 K is much lower than the fully ordered spin moment of $2\mu_{\scriptscriptstyle {\rm B}}$/V$^{3+}$, suggesting the presence of a considerable orbital moment antiparallel to the spin moment and strong spin–orbit coupling in VI$_{3}$. This results in strong magnetoelastic interactions that make the magnetic properties of VI$_{3}$ easily tunable via strain and pressure.
. [J]. 中国物理快报, 2021, 38(9): 96101-096101.
Yiqing Hao, Yiqing Gu, Yimeng Gu, Erxi Feng, Huibo Cao, Songxue Chi, Hua Wu, and Jun Zhao. Magnetic Order and Its Interplay with Structure Phase Transition in van der Waals Ferromagnet VI$_{3}$. Chin. Phys. Lett., 2021, 38(9): 96101-096101.
2021, Vol. 38 
