Strong room-temperature ferromagnetism and magnetocaloric effect in anisotropic two-dimensional layered chromium indium telluride

Abstract Two-dimensional (2D) layered ferromagnets offer exciting opportunities for studying magnetic phenomena and developing advanced spintronic devices. In this study, we experimentally present a 2D chromium indium telluride (Cr6In2Te12, CIT) that exhibits robust room-temperature ferromagnetism and remarkable magnetic properties.CIT demonstrates a high Curie temperature of 320 K, record-high room-temperature saturation magnetization (~52.3 emu/g), and a strong magnetocaloric effect. Notably, with decreasing thickness, it transitions from a metallic ferromagnet to a ferromagnetic semiconductor. Besides, CIT displays complex magnetocrystalline anisotropy with multiple easy axes and signatures of an abnormal phase transition, characterized by anisotropic anomalies in field- and temperature-dependent magnetization curves. Furthermore, CIT shows anisotropic magnetic interactions and critical exponents consistent with a mean-field model. These exceptional properties position CIT as a promising 2D high-TC ferromagnetic semiconductor for multidisciplinary applications, particularly in high-performance spintronic devices.