Critical behavior of the quasi-two-dimensional ferromagnet Cr1.04Te2

Abstract The self-intercalation of Cr into pristine two-dimensional (2D) van der Waals ferromagnetic CrTe 2 , which forms chromium tellurides (Cr x Te 2 ), has garnered interests due to their remarkable magnetic characteristics and the wide variety of chemical compositions available. Here, comprehensive basic characterization and magnetic studies are conducted on quasi-2D ferromagnetic Cr 1.04 Te 2 crystals. Measurements of the isothermal magnetization curves are conducted around the critical temperature to systematically investigate the critical behavior. Specifically, the critical exponents β = 0.2399, γ = 0.8590, and δ = 4.3498, as well as the Curie temperature T C = 249.56 K, are determined using various methods, including a modified Arrott plots, the Kouvel-Fisher method, the Widom scaling method, and the critical isotherm analysis. These results indicate that the tricritical mean-field model accurately represents the critical behavior of Cr 1.04 Te 2 . A magnetic phase diagram with tricritical phenomenon is thus constructed. Further investigations confirmed that the critical exponents obtained conform to the scalar equation near T C , indicating their self-consistency and reliability. Our work sheds light on the magnetic properties of quasi-2D Cr 1.04 Te 2 , broadening the scope of the van der Waals crystals for developments of future spintronic devices operable at room temperature.