Crystal growth, exfoliation, and magnetic properties of quaternary quasi-two-dimensional CuCrP2 S6

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Abstract

We report optimized crystal growth conditions for the quaternary compound CuCrP2S6 by chemical vapor transport. Compositional and structural characterization of the obtained crystals were carried out by means of energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy and powder x-ray diffraction. CuCrP2S6 is structurally closely related to the M2P2S6 family (M: transition metal), which contains several compounds that are under investigation as 2D magnets. As-grown crystals exhibit a platelike, layered morphology as well as a hexagonal habitus. We present successful exfoliation of such as-grown crystals down to thicknesses of 2.6 nm corresponding to four layers. CuCrP2S6 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/c. Magnetization measurements reveal an antiferromagnetic ground state with TN≈30 K and a positive Curie-Weiss temperature in agreement with dominant ferromagnetic intralayer coupling. Specific heat measurements confirm this magnetic phase transition and the magnetic order is suppressed in an external magnetic field of about 6 T (8 T) applied parallel (perpendicular) to the ab plane. At higher temperatures between 140-200 K, additional broad anomalies associated with structural changes accompanying antiferroelectric ordering are detected in our specific heat studies.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number033402
JournalPhysical review materials
Volume7
Issue number3
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2023
Peer-reviewedYes