{
  "id": "2104.09614",
  "version": "v1",
  "published": "2021-04-19T20:35:14.000Z",
  "updated": "2021-04-19T20:35:14.000Z",
  "title": "Nanomechanical probing and strain tuning of the Curie temperature in suspended Cr$_2$Ge$_2$Te$_6$ heterostructures",
  "authors": [
    "Makars Šiškins",
    "Samer Kurdi",
    "Martin Lee",
    "Benjamin J. M. Slotboom",
    "Wenyu Xing",
    "Samuel Mañas-Valero",
    "Eugenio Coronado",
    "Shuang Jia",
    "Wei Han",
    "Toeno van der Sar",
    "Herre S. J. van der Zant",
    "Peter G. Steeneken"
  ],
  "categories": [
    "cond-mat.mes-hall",
    "cond-mat.mtrl-sci",
    "cond-mat.other",
    "physics.app-ph"
  ],
  "abstract": "Two-dimensional (2D) magnetic materials with strong magnetostriction, like Cr$_2$Ge$_2$Te$_6$ (CGT), provide opportunities for tuning their magnetic state with potential applications in spintronic and magneto-mechanical devices. However, realizing this potential requires understanding their mechanical properties, such as the Young's modulus, and the ability to controllably strain the magnets and monitor their ferromagnetic Curie temperature $T_{\\rm C}$ on a device level. In this work, we suspend thin CGT layers to form nanomechanical membrane resonators. We then probe the mechanical and magnetic properties of CGT as a function of temperature and strain by static and dynamic nanomechanical methods. Pronounced signatures of magneto-elastic coupling are observed in the temperature-dependent resonance frequency of these membranes at the $T_{\\rm C}$. We further utilize CGT in heterostructures with thin WSe$_2$ and FePS$_3$ layers to control the strain in CGT flakes and quantitatively probe the transition temperatures of all materials involved. In addition, an enhancement of $T_{\\rm C}$ by $2.5\\pm0.6$ K in CGT is realized by electrostatic force straining the heterostructure of $0.016\\%$ in the absence of an external magnetic field. Nanomechanical strain thus offers a compelling degree of freedom to probe and control magnetic phase transitions in 2D layered ferromagnets and heterostructures.",
  "revisions": [
    {
      "version": "v1",
      "updated": "2021-04-19T20:35:14.000Z"
    }
  ],
  "analyses": {
    "keywords": [
      "suspended cr",
      "heterostructure",
      "strain tuning",
      "nanomechanical probing",
      "control magnetic phase transitions"
    ],
    "note": {
      "typesetting": "TeX",
      "pages": 0,
      "language": "en",
      "license": "arXiv",
      "status": "editable"
    }
  }
}