New type of magnetism discovered in 2D materials to help store data

Researchers from the University of Stuttgart have experimentally discovered a new type of magnetism in two-dimensional (2D) materials, specifically in atomically thin layers of chromium iodide. This novel magnetic state emerges when two bilayers of chromium iodide are slightly twisted relative to each other, creating nanoscale, topologically protected magnetic structures known as skyrmions. These skyrmions represent some of the smallest and most stable information carriers in magnetic systems and were directly detected for the first time in a twisted 2D magnetic material. The team also observed a super-moiré magnetic state characterized by long-range magnetic textures that extend beyond a single moiré unit cell, with the spin-texture size peaking at about 300 nm at a 1.1° twist angle. The discovery holds significant implications for future magnetic data storage technologies, as the new magnetic properties are robust against environmental disturbances and can be selectively controlled by tuning electron interactions between the layers. This advancement addresses the growing need for