The magnetoelectric (ME) effect is a fundamental concept in modern condensed matter physics and represents the electrical control of magnetic polarisations or vice versa. Two-dimensional (2D) van-der-Waals (vdW) magnets have emerged as a new class of materials and exhibit novel ME effects with diverse manifestations. This review emphasizes some important recent discoveries unique to vdW magnets: multiferroicity on two dimensions, spin-charge correlation, atomic ME effect and current-induced intrinsic spin-orbit torque, and electrical gating control and magnetic control of their electronic properties. We also highlight the promising route of utilizing quantum magnetic hetero- or homo-structures to engineer the ME effect and corresponding spintronic and optoelectronic device applications. Due to the intrinsic two-dimensionality, vdW magnets with those ME effects are expected to form a new, exciting research direction.
@article{arxiv.2501.02070,
title = {Magnetoelectric effect in van der Waals magnets},
author = {Kai-Xuan Zhang and Giung Park and Youjin Lee and Beom Hyun Kim and Je-Geun Park},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2501.02070},
year = {2025}
}
Comments
Accepted by npj Quantum Materials; 27 pages, 6 main figures