Gate-Tunable Renormalization of Spin-Correlated Flat-Band States and Bandgap in a 2D Magnetic Insulator.

Lyu, Pin; Sødequist, Joachim; Sheng, Xiaoyu; Qiu, Zhizhan; Tadich, Anton; Li, Qile; Edmonds, Mark T; Zhao, Meng et al. · ACS Nano · 2023

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Emergent quantum phenomena in two-dimensional van der Waal (vdW) magnets are largely governed by the interplay between exchange and Coulomb interactions. The ability to precisely tune the Coulomb interaction enables the control of spin-correlated flat-band states, band gap, and unconventional magnetism in such strongly correlated materials. Here, we demonstrate a gate-tunable renormalization of spin-correlated flat-band states and bandgap in magnetic chromium tribromide (CrBr<sub>3</sub>) monolayers grown on graphene. Our gate-dependent scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STS) studies reveal that the interflat-band spacing and bandgap of CrBr<sub>3</sub> can be continuously tuned by 120 and 240 meV, respectively, <i>via</i> electrostatic injection of carriers into the hybrid CrBr<sub>3</sub>/graphene system. This can be attributed to the self-screening of CrBr<sub>3</sub> arising from the gate-induced carriers injected into CrBr<sub>3</sub>, which dominates over the weakened remote screening of the graphene substrate due to the decreased carrier density in graphene. Precise tuning of the spin-correlated flat-band states and bandgap in 2D magnets <i>via</i> electrostatic modulation of Coulomb interactions not only provides effective strategies for optimizing the spin transport channels but also may exert a crucial influence on the exchange energy and spin-wave gap, which could raise the critical temperature for magnetic order.