Two-Dimensional Room-Temperature Magnetic Nonstoichiometric Fe7Se8 Nanocrystals: Controllable Synthesis and Magnetic Behavior

Two-dimensional (2D) magnetic materials have attracted significant attention for promising applications in energy-saving logic and robust memory devices. However, most 2D magnets discovered so far typically feature drawbacks for practical applications due to low critical temperatures. Herein, we synthesize ultrathin room-temperature (RT) magnetic Fe₇Se₈ nanoflakes via the space-confined chemical vapor deposition method. It is found that the appropriate supply and control of Se concentration in the reaction chamber is crucial for synthesizing high-quality nonstoichiometric Fe₇Se₈ nanoflakes. Cryogenic electrical and magnetic characterizations reveal the emergence of spin reorientation at ∼130 K and the survival of long-range magnetic ordering up to room temperature. The RT magnetic domain structures with different thicknesses are also uncovered by magnetic force microscopy. Moreover, theoretical calculations confirm the spin configuration and metallic band structure. The outstanding characteristics exhibited by Fe₇Se₈ nanoflakes, including RT magnetism, spin reorientation property, and good electrical conductivity, make them a potential candidate for RT spintronics.