Uncovering the Lowest Thickness Limit for Room-Temperature Ferromagnetism of CrTe.

Metallic ferromagnetic transition metal dichalcogenides have emerged as important building blocks for scalable magnetic and memory applications. Downscaling such systems to the ultrathin limit is critical to integrate them into technology. Here, we achieved layer-by-layer control over the transition metal dichalcogenide CrTe by using pulsed laser deposition, and we uncovered the minimum critical thickness above which room-temperature magnetic order is maintained.

Artificial Aging of Thin Films of the Indium-Free Transparent Conducting Oxide SrVO.

SrVO (SVO) is a prospective candidate to replace the conventional indium tin oxide (ITO) among the new generation of transparent conducting oxide (TCO) materials. In this study, the structural, electrical, and optical properties of SVO thin films, both epitaxial and polycrystalline, are determined during and after heat treatments in the 150-250 °C range and under ambient environment in order to explore the chemical stability of this material. The use of these relatively low temperatures speeds up the natural aging of the films and allows following the evolution of their related properties.