UC Berkeley

2D layered materials with broken inversion symmetry are being extensively pursued as  spin source layers to realize high-efficiency magnetic switching. Such low-symmetry layered systems are, however, scarce. In addition, most layered magnets with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy show a low Curie temperature. Here, the experimental observation of spin-orbit torque magnetization self-switching at room temperature in a layered polar ferromagnetic metal, Fe_2.5 Co_2.5 GeTe₂ is reported. The spin-orbit torque is generated from the broken inversion symmetry along the c-axis of the crystal. These results provide a direct pathway toward applicable 2D spintronic devices.