TwistMag · Twist-Engineered Magnetism and Magnetotransport in CrSBr-Based Van Der Waals Heterostructures

Controlling magnetism at the nanoscale is a key requirement for next-generation spintronic and quantum devices. The discovery of intrinsic long-range magnetic order in van der Waals (vdW) magnets in the two-dimensional (2D) limit opens new possibilities for technological applications. In particular, A-type antiferromagnets, owing to their ability to stabilize and control both ferromagnetic (FM) and antiferromagnetic (AFM) configurations via external stimuli such as pressure, strain, electric field, and notably, twist, have attracted growing attention. The advent of twist engineering in vdW magnets introduces a novel tuning parameter for investigating exotic magnetic effects. However, many of these materials are air-sensitive, hindering practical use. Moreover, effective manipulation of magnetic behavior and magnetotransport effects in twisted magnets remain to be fully explored and exploited. CrSBr, an air-stable A-type antiferromagnet with high magnetic ordering temperature, holds promise for overcoming these shortcomings. While its structural and environmental stability makes CrSBr suitable for twist engineering, how twist design in CrSBr heterostructures shapes their magnetism and magnetotransport properties remains largely unexplored, leaving a critical gap in fundamental knowledge and application potential. Therefore, the applicant will explore the interplay between magnetic and structural characteristics in vdW heterostructures with a focus on CrSBr. This research project aims to establish twisting as a new tuning knob for selected magnetic phenomena in 2D magnetism, such as spin structures and magnetoresistance effects in twisted multilayers of the same material and exchange bias in stacks of AFM/FM heterostructures. Successful completion of this project will enhance the understanding of 2D magnetism and open new avenues for designing advanced spintronic devices.