Néel-type skyrmions and their current-induced motion in van der Waals ferromagnet-based heterostructures

There have been extensive efforts to engineer magnetic two-dimensional materials with a view to using them for spintronic applications, in conjunction with other materials from the two-dimensional family. Here, the authors reveal N\'eel-type chiral magnetic skyrmions and their lattice formation in the van der Waals ferromagnet Fe₃GeTe₂ (FGT). They demonstrate the capability to drive an individual skyrmion by current along this van der Waals heterostructure on h-BN. Utilizing a00exb i00exn00exi00ext00exi00exo calculations, the study proposes the presence of Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction at FGT interfaces with oxidized layers.