Multidirectional Spin-Orbit Torque Magnetization Dynamics in beyond Room Temperature Van der Waals Magnet Devices.

Zhao, Bing; Bainsla, Lakhan; Ershadrad, Soheil; Sumant, Prabhav N; Ngaloy, Roselle; Rosen, Johanna; Sanyal, Biplab; Åkerman, Johan et al. · Nano Lett · 2026

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

van der Waals (vdW) magnets with room-temperature ferromagnetism offer exciting opportunities for energy-efficient spintronic devices, yet their magnetization dynamics remain largely unexplored despite their importance for high-speed memory technologies. Here, we investigate spin-orbit torque phenomena in the room-temperature vdW magnet (Co<sub>0.15</sub>Fe<sub>0.85</sub>)<sub>5</sub>GeTe<sub>2</sub> (CFGT)/Pt heterostructure using spin-torque ferromagnetic resonance and second-harmonic Hall measurements. Alongside a conventional in-plane spin Hall conductivity of 3.68 × 10<sup>5</sup> (ℏ/2e) (Ω m)<sup>-1</sup>, we identify a sizable out-of-plane component of -0.33 × 10<sup>5</sup> (ℏ/2e) (Ω m)<sup>-1</sup> that generates unconventional damping-like torques. Density functional theory and Monte Carlo simulations suggest that this torque can originate from interface-induced spin reorientation arising from a modified magnetic anisotropy landscape and strongly enhanced Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction at the CFGT/Pt interface. The combination of low effective magnetization (0.321 T), moderate Gilbert damping (0.027), and efficient multidirectional torques highlights vdW magnets as promising platforms for next-generation spintronic devices.