Chemical design of skyrmionic materials
Abstract
Materials with noncoplanar spin structures, e.g., magnetic skyrmions, are promising for the next generation of data storage devices. Thus, such materials offer an advantage to DOD and AFOSR for their potential applications - however, many basic science questions regarding them remain unanswered- Why do these structures form? What determines their useful characteristics, such as their size? And, lastly, how can we reliably design a material with such features? Until recently, it was believed that skyrmions, which are nanoscale swirls of spin, can only exist in non-centrosymmetric materials. Unexpectedly, in the last several years, ordered skyrmions were found in centrosymmetric compounds, which cannot support interactions that typically produce skyrmions. This discovery demands derivation of new design rules for skyrmionic materials. Here we propose to do just that, by focusing on one subclass of compounds- lanthanide-containing materials with square-net lattices, where the magnetic order is mediated by conduction electrons through the Ruderman-Kittel-Kasuya-Yosida interaction. We propose three avenues to induce complex magnetic order in these phases- (i) by controlling the magnetic exchange through coupling to charge density waves, (ii) by combining lanthanides in different chemical environments, and (iii) by using strain to fine-tune the system. Our team is comprised of three PIs with different expertise, ranging from chemical logic and crystal growth (Schoop); neutron and x-ray scattering, necessary to understand spin order (Wilson); and spin-polarized STM, which allows the detection of skyrmions (Madhavan). With this unique combination of capabilities, we will be able to predict, synthesize, and investigate novel skyrmionic materials. Finally, using the data generated throughout the project, we will derive rules, based on chemical concepts, that will help researchers across the U.S. to discover more such materials, paving the way towards real-life applications.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Mar 07, 2024
- Source ID
- FA95502310635
Entities
People
- Leslie M Schoop
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- Trustees of Princeton University
- United States Air Force