Band gap crossover and insulator–metal transition in the compressed layered CrPS4

Two-dimensional van der Waals (vdW) magnetic materials have emerged as possible candidates for future ultrathin spintronic devices, and finding a way to tune their physical properties is desirable for wider applications. Owing to the sensitivity and tunability of the physical properties to the varia...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:npj quantum materials 2020-08, Vol.5 (1), Article 58
Main Authors: Susilo, Resta A., Jang, Bo Gyu, Feng, Jiajia, Du, Qianheng, Yan, Zhipeng, Dong, Hongliang, Yuan, Mingzhi, Petrovic, Cedomir, Shim, Ji Hoon, Kim, Duck Young, Chen, Bin
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
639/301/1005/1007
639/766/119/995
Antiferromagnetism
Condensed Matter Physics
CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
Crossovers
Crystal structure
Energy gap
Magnetic materials
Magnetic properties
Mathematical analysis
Photoluminescence
Physical properties
Physics
Physics and Astronomy
Quantum Physics
Raman spectroscopy
Structural Materials
Surfaces and Interfaces
Thin Films
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Summary:Two-dimensional van der Waals (vdW) magnetic materials have emerged as possible candidates for future ultrathin spintronic devices, and finding a way to tune their physical properties is desirable for wider applications. Owing to the sensitivity and tunability of the physical properties to the variation of interatomic separations, this class of materials is attractive to explore under pressure. Here, we present the observation of direct to indirect band gap crossover and an insulator–metal transition in the vdW antiferromagnetic insulator CrPS 4 under pressure through in-situ photoluminescence, optical absorption, and resistivity measurements. Raman spectroscopy experiments revealed no changes in the spectral feature during the band gap crossover whereas the insulator–metal transition is possibly driven by the formation of the high-pressure crystal structure. Theoretical calculations suggest that the band gap crossover is driven by the shrinkage and rearrangement of the CrS 6 octahedra under pressure. Such high tunability under pressure demonstrates an interesting interplay between structural, optical and magnetic degrees of freedom in CrPS 4 , and provides further opportunity for the development of devices based on tunable properties of 2D vdW magnetic materials.
ISSN:2397-4648
2397-4648
DOI:10.1038/s41535-020-00261-x