Competing Magnetic Configurations Enable Low-Field Magnetoresistance Switching in Cr3Te4

Large magnetoresistance typically emerges from transitions between distinct electronic phases or magnetic configurations, yet controllable switching between competing magnetic configurations within a single metallic material remains challenging. Here we investigate magnetotransport in Cr3Te4 and demonstrate a magnetic-field-switchable resistance modulation of up to −37.6%, enabled by the near degeneracy between antiparallel and parallel magnetic configurations. Remarkably, a magnetic field of ∼0.25 T suffices to induce switching between these competing magnetic configurations, accompanied by a reconstruction in electronic transport supported by Boltzmann transport calculations. Substituting 5% of Cr with Co suppresses the switching behavior, consistent with a suppression of the competition between the nearly degenerate magnetic configurations, while the magnetoresistance evolves into a negative longitudinal magnetoresistance, suggesting a possible Weyl-band-related contribution associated with a Co-induced upward shift of the Fermi level. Our results establish competing magnetic configurations as an effective route toward large magnetoresistance in structurally simple metallic systems.