Magnetism measurements of two-dimensional van der Waals antiferromagnet CrPS4 using dynamic cantilever magnetometry

Abstract

Recent experimental and theoretical work has focused on two-dimensional van der Waals (2D vdW) magnets due to their potential applications in sensing and spintronics devises. In measurements of these emerging materials, conventional magnetometry often encounters challenges in characterizing the magnetic properties of small-sized vdW materials, especially for antiferromagnets with nearly compensated magnetic moments. Here, we investigate the magnetism of 2D antiferromagnet CrPS4 with a thickness of 8nm by using dynamic cantilever magnetometry (DCM). Through a combination of DCM experiment and the calculation based on a Stoner--Wohlfarth-type model, we unravel the magnetization states in 2D CrPS4 antiferromagnet. In the case of H parallel with c, a two-stage phase transition is observed. For H perpendicular to c, a hump in the effective magnetic restoring force is noted, which implies the presence of spin reorientation as temperature increases. These results demonstrate the benefits of DCM for studying magnetism of 2D magnets.