Switching of the magnetic anisotropy via strain in two dimensional multiferroic materials: CrSX (X = Cl, Br, I)

Two-dimensional (2D) ferromagnets with tunable magnetic anisotropies have great potential in developing spintronic devices. However, until now, there are a few feasible means to control the magnetic anisotropies in 2D ferromagnets. Here, we propose that magnetic easy axes can be switched by ferroelastic strain in 2D ferromagnets: CrSX (X = Cl, Br, I) monolayers. Our ab initio studies reveal that CrSX (X = Cl, Br, I) monolayers are 2D multiferroic materials, which exhibit both ferromagnetism and ferroelasticity. CrSX monolayers also show strongly in-plane magnetic anisotropic character due to their anisotropic structures. By such coexistence, we demonstrate that the in-plane magnetic anisotropy in CrSX monolayers can be manipulated by the reversible ferroelastic strain. Our findings provide a promising platform to control the spintronic properties by incorporating ferroelastic phase transition.