Observation of intrinsic crystal phase in bare few-layer CrI3
Liu Zhen,
Guo Yongzheng,
Chen Zhiyong,
Gong Tao,
Li Yue,
Niu Yuting,
Cheng Yingchun,
Lu Haipeng,
Deng Longjiang,
Peng Bo
Affiliations
Liu Zhen
National Engineering Research Center of Electromagnetic Radiation Control Materials, School of Electronic Science and Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu611731, China
Guo Yongzheng
National Engineering Research Center of Electromagnetic Radiation Control Materials, School of Electronic Science and Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu611731, China
Chen Zhiyong
National Engineering Research Center of Electromagnetic Radiation Control Materials, School of Electronic Science and Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu611731, China
Gong Tao
National Engineering Research Center of Electromagnetic Radiation Control Materials, School of Electronic Science and Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu611731, China
Li Yue
National Engineering Research Center of Electromagnetic Radiation Control Materials, School of Electronic Science and Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu611731, China
Niu Yuting
National Engineering Research Center of Electromagnetic Radiation Control Materials, School of Electronic Science and Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu611731, China
Cheng Yingchun
Key Laboratory of Flexible Electronics and Institute of Advanced Materials, Jiangsu National Synergetic Innovation Center for Advanced Materials, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing211816, China
Lu Haipeng
National Engineering Research Center of Electromagnetic Radiation Control Materials, School of Electronic Science and Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu611731, China
Deng Longjiang
National Engineering Research Center of Electromagnetic Radiation Control Materials, School of Electronic Science and Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu611731, China
Peng Bo
National Engineering Research Center of Electromagnetic Radiation Control Materials, School of Electronic Science and Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu611731, China
Intrinsic structural phase is a crucial foundation for the fundamental physical properties, and for creating innovative devices with unprecedented performances and unique functionalities. Long-range ferromagnetic orders of van der Waals CrI3 are strongly tied with interlayer stacking orders. However, the intrinsic structure of few-layer CrI3 still remains elusive; the predicted monoclinic phase has not yet been experimentally detected in bare few-layer CrI3. Here we uncover the intrinsic structure of few-layer CrI3 with interlayer antiferromagnetic coupling, which unambiguously show monoclinic stacking in both bare and hBN-encapsulated bilayer and tri-five-layer CrI3 throughout an entire temperature range from 300 to 10 K. An exotic spring damping effect from hBN encapsulation layers is experimentally observed in hBN/CrI3/hBN heterostructures, which partly hinders interlayer sliding of CrI3. This work demonstrates the intrinsic monoclinic crystal phase of few-layer CrI3 and associated correlation with magnetic orders, opening up numerous opportunities for creating magnetic texture by stacking design.
