Magnetic Properties of Skyrmion-Hosting Materials

Magnetic skyrmions are topologically protected spin textures arising in noncentrosymmetric magnets under the influence of Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interactions and competing exchange and anisotropy terms. Their stability over a broad range of temperatures and magnetic fields depends on the balance of these interactions, the crystalline symmetry, and the presence of thermal fluctuations or geometrical confinement. Skyrmion-hosting materials span bulk B20 alloys, thin films, interfaces and lacunar spinel compounds, each offering distinct pathways to tailor skyrmion diameter, density and dynamics. Micromagnetic and atomistic simulations have elucidated the role of both Heisenberg exchange and Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya terms in stabilising sub-10 nm skyrmions, while experimental techniques such as neutron scattering, magnetic force microscopy and resonant X-ray scattering reveal the rich phase diagrams comprising cycloidal, conical, skyrmion lattice and ferromagnetic states. The ability to manipulate skyrmions via electric currents, localised strain or ferroelectric domain engineering opens prospects for low-power spintronic devices, skyrmion racetrack memory and neuromorphic computing elements. Interplay with multiferroicity and magnetoelectric coupling further enables voltage control of skyrmion formations and motion, enhancing the materials’ appeal for scalable information technologies.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies have demonstrated that polar magnets with weak uniaxial anisotropy can host a robust skyrmion lattice down to zero kelvin. In such systems, a proper choice of material parameters fosters thermodynamic stability of Néel-type skyrmions across the entire temperature range below the paramagnetic state, with direct imaging confirming the persistence of the SkL phase as the ground state. Investigations into ferroelectric-ferroelastic domains in a prototypical lacunar spinel have revealed that domain boundaries act as barriers to skyrmion propagation, with abrupt changes in magnetic patterns observed at polar lamellae. Control of domain size thus emerges as a tool to spatially confine and manipulate skyrmions. Furthermore, systematic exploration of structural and magnetic transitions in solid solutions of the lacunar spinel series highlights the necessity of charge-ordering-driven phase changes for skyrmion formation: end-member compositions exhibiting both structural transition and ferromagnetic ordering stabilise a skyrmion phase, while intermediate cubic compounds lacking these transitions do not support SkL states.

Magnetic Properties of Skyrmion-Hosting Materials publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in magnetic properties of skyrmion-hosting materials across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Magnetic skyrmion: A stable, vortex-like spin configuration with topological protection against continuous deformation.

Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction: An antisymmetric exchange interaction arising in noncentrosymmetric lattices that favours chiral spin textures.

Néel-type skyrmion: A skyrmion whose spins rotate radially inwards or outwards, typically found in polar magnets.

Skyrmion lattice: A periodic array of skyrmions forming a crystalline spin structure under suitable field and temperature conditions.

References

1. Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interactions, Néel skyrmions and V4 magnetic clusters in multiferroic lacunar spinel GaV4S8. npj Computational Materials (2024).
2. Equilibrium Skyrmion Lattice Ground State in a Polar Easy-plane Magnet. Scientific Reports (2017).
3. Characteristics of ferroelectric-ferroelastic domains in Néel-type skyrmion host GaV4S8. Scientific Reports (2017).
4. Macroscopic manifestation of domain-wall magnetism and magnetoelectric effect in a Néel-type skyrmion host. npj Quantum Materials (2020).
5. Squeezing the periodicity of Néel-type magnetic modulations by enhanced Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction of 4d electrons. npj Quantum Materials (2022).
6. Establishing magneto-structural relationships in the solid solutions of the skyrmion hosting family of materials: GaV4S8−ySey. Scientific Reports (2020).