Magnetic Phase Diagram of 2D Magnet Fe_5-<i>x</i>GeTe₂ Revealed by Cryogenic Lorentz 4D-STEM.

A two-dimensional van der Waals ferromagnet Fe_5-xGeTe₂ (F5GT) exhibits room-temperature magnetic transition and magnetic anisotropy. Studies have identified diverse magnetic states, including stripe domains, skyrmionic type-I and topologically trivial type-II bubbles, depending on the magnetic and thermal history. Yet, the underlying micromagnetic energetics driving these states remains unclear. Here, we establish the magnetic phase diagram of bulk F5GT using cryogenic Lorentz four-dimensional scanning transmission electron microscopy. We reveal that stripe domains spontaneously form upon zero-field cooling, while metastable magnetic bubbles are stabilized by external fields. Transitions from type-I to type-II bubbles are driven by an oblique external field. Micromagnetic simulations confirm that these transitions arise from the interplay of uniaxial anisotropy, dipolar interactions, and external fields, without requiring significant Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya Interaction (DMI). These findings clarify the micromagnetic origin of spin textures of F5GT and establish it as a tunable platform for nanoscale topological magnetism.

Duke Scholars

Author Miaofang Chi Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materia ...