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    Robust intrinsic ferromagnetic half-metal and semiconductors in two-dimensional Cr2MX4 (M=In, Ge; X=S, Te) with high Curie temperature and tunable magnetic anisotropy

    Xiao-Ping Wei1,2,*, Jiao-Yang Zhang1, Hai-Rui Li1, Chao Zhang3, Jie Li4, Xiao-Long Li5, and Xiaoma Tao6

    • 1The School of Mathematics and Physics, Lanzhou Jiaotong University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730070, People's Republic of China
    • 2Gansu Center for Fundamental Research in Complex Systems Analysis and Control, Lanzhou Jiaotong University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730070, People's Republic of China
    • 3School of Mechatronics Engineering, Lanzhou Istitute of Technology, Lanzhou, Gansu 730050, People's Republic of China
    • 4School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, People's Republic of China
    • 5Company of Fangda Carbon New Material Co., Ltd, Lanzhou 730080, People's Republic of China
    • 6College of Physical Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi 530004, People's Republic of China

    • *Contact author: weixp2008@lzjtu.edu.cn

    Phys. Rev. B 113, 075404 – Published 2 February, 2026

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/3ky3-92bt

    Abstract

    Two-dimensional (2D) robust intrinsic ferromagnetic (FM) half-metals and semiconductors exhibit widespread application prospects in spintronic and magnetic storage devices. However, designing 2D materials with high Curie temperature still faces significant challenges, as 2D crystals cannot spontaneously form long-range magnetic order at finite temperatures according to the Mermin-Wagner theorem. In this work, combining first-principles and Monte Carlo simulations, we propose a series of 2D intrinsic FM Cr2MX4 (M=In, Ge; X=S, Te) materials with large magnetic moment (∼7µB), high Curie temperatures (120∼638 K), sizable half-metallic and semiconducting gaps (1.19∼2.94 eV), and excellent structural stability. The superexchange mechanism mediated by Cr-X-Cr interaction is responsible for the FM coupling. High spin states of Cr-d orbitals in the D4h crystal field lead to the large magnetization, the exchange splitting between the dx2−y2 and dxy orbitals briefly induces a wide gap. Furthermore, the Cr2MX4 shows out-of-plane magnetization with magnetic anisotropy energy (MAE) of 56.76∼434.25 µeV/f.u., and the spin-orbit coupling plays a leading contribution compared to the magnetic dipole-dipole interaction. The origin of MAE is also unveiled by the torque method, second-order perturbation theory, and magnetic dipole-dipole interaction. Under biaxial strain of −4%∼4%, it is tunable for the magnetic exchange, Curie temperature, and magnetic anisotropy energy of Cr2MX4, and the magnetization direction, half-metallic, or semiconducting behaviors are robustly preserved. Our results indicate that Cr2MX4 is likely as candidates of spintronic and magnetic storage devices.

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