While intrinsic two-dimensional (2D) ferromagnetic (FM) materials hold great promise for spintronic applications, external control over both electrical and magnetic properties is crucial. Here, we demonstrate effective modulation of electronic and magnetic characteristics of Cr₂Si₂Te₆ (CST) through ionic liquid gating (ILG). Upon electron doping via ILG, CST undergoes a semiconductor-to-metal transition, accompanied by remarkable enhancements in Curie temperature (T₂, from 33 K to 110 K) and coercive field (H₂, from 1. 4 mT to 50 mT). Moreover, under high doping levels, the magnetic easy axis can be electrically switched from the out-of-plane to the in-plane direction. Theoretical calculations suggest a possible scenario in which electron doping strengthens FM coupling through a double-exchange mechanism between mixed-valence Cr ions, thereby boosting T₂. These findings highlight ILG as a versatile strategy for tailoring magnetism in 2D ferromagnets and offering pathways for next-generation spintronic devices.
Yuan et al. (2026) studied this question.