Ferromagnetic intercalated compounds CrHfxTe2 with a magnetocaloric effect and negative magnetoresistance

Abstract

Intercalation in van der Waals materials enables novel structures and exotic properties. Herein, we have successfully synthesized two intercalated compounds CrHf_xTe₂ (x = 0.1, 1/3) via a flux method. CrHf_0.1Te₂ and CrHf_1/3Te₂ exhibit ferromagnetism with Curie temperatures of 234.9 K and 247.2 K under out-of-plane fields. The maximum magnetic entropy variation of CrHf_0.1Te₂ attains 2.85 J kg⁻¹ K near 185 K, and the relative cooling power (216.6 J kg⁻¹) exceeds that of multiple van der Waals ferromagnets. Furthermore, negative magnetoresistances of −3.8% and −4.7% are respectively observed in CrHf_0.1Te₂ and CrHf_1/3Te₂. This work provides a strategy for designing new intercalation compounds promising for electronic and magnetic applications.