Polarity-tunable field-free room-temperature spin orbit torque switching via topological symmetry breaking in an all-vdW heterostructure for spin logic applications

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Authors: Fan Gao, Zili Wang, Runyu Zhao, Jing Li, Xiaoyue Song, Peiyuan Yu, Yun Sun, Weiran Xie, Guodong Wei, Yuan Yao, Jin Zou, Jie Zhang
+6 more Shucheng Xing, Roberto Mantovan, Zongxia Guo, N. Jaouen, Wei Zhao, Tianxiao Nie
Cited by: 2
References: 42

Abstract

Two-dimensional ferromagnetic materials hold great promise for advancing low-power, high-integrated spintronic devices due to their atomic flat surfaces and versatile interfacial modulation. However, achieving a combination of room-temperature, field-free spin-orbit torque switching with tunable polarity in wafer-scale vdW heterostructures remains a significant challenge. Here, we demonstrate polarity-tunable, field-free spin-orbit torque switching in an all-vdW Bi2Te3/Fe4GeTe2 heterostructure, grown by molecular beam epitaxy. Interfacial coupling induces perpendicular magnetic anisotropy in Bi2Te3/Fe4GeTe2 interface, while the rest in-plane magnetic anisotropy component of Fe4GeTe2 breaks the inversion symmetry, enabling field-free switching. By modulating the direction of in-plane component, magnetic switching with different polarity could be achieved at low current density (~1.55×106 A/cm2). This allows for 16 reconfigurable Boolean logic functions in a single device, paving a pathway for energy-efficient 2D spintronic memory and logic systems. Our findings highlight the potential of all-vdW spin-orbit torque devices to revolutionize spintronics with scalable, room-temperature electronic control. Topological interfacial coupling enhances PMA in 2D Fe4GeTe2, yielding coexisting IMA/PMA components enabling field-free SOT switching at low current density with polarity control, demonstrating reconfigurable logic for low-power spintronics.

Fields of Study & Subjects

2D Materials and Applications Topological Materials and Phenomena Magnetic properties of thin films

Publication details

Journal / source
Nature Communications
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Volume
17
Issue
1
Publication date
12 March 2026
Language
EN