Strain-Induced Ferromagnetism in Monolayer T″-Phase VTe₂: Unveiling Magnetic States and Anisotropy for Spintronics Advancement

Two-dimensional (2D) ferromagnets have attracted significant interest for their potential in spintronic device miniaturization, especially since the discovery of ferromagnetic ordering in monolayer materials such as CrI3 and Fe3GeTe2 in 2017. This study presents a detailed investigation into the effects of the Hubbard U parameter, biaxial strain, and structural distortions on the magnetic characteristics of T″-phase VTe2. We demonstrate that setting the Hubbard U to 0 eV provides an accurate representation of the observed structural, magnetic, and electronic features for both bulk and monolayer T″-phase VTe2. The application of strain reveals two distinct ferromagnetic states in the monolayer T″-phase VTe2, each characterized by minor structural differences, but notably different magnetic moments. The T″-1 state, with reduced magnetic moments, emerges under compressive strain, while the T″-2 state, featuring increased magnetic moments, develops under tensile strain. Our analysis also compares the magnetic anisotropy between the T and T″ phases of VTe2, highlighting that the periodic lattice distortion in the T″-phase induces an in-plane anisotropy, which makes it a material with an easy-axis of magnetization. Monte Carlo simulations corroborate our findings, indicating a high Curie temperature of approximately 191 K for the T″-phase VTe2. Our research not only sheds light on the critical aspects of the VTe2 system but also suggests new pathways for enhancing low-dimensional magnetism, contributing to the advancement of spintronics and straintronics.