Although van der Waals (vdW) antiferromagnets are expected to reveal spin-based functional properties, the feasibility of spintronic applications at room temperature is limited owing to the lack of suitable materials. Here we use torque magnetometry and a uniaxial spin model to understand the room-temperature magnetic anisotropy of the vdW antiferromagnet, Co-doped Fe5GeTe2. We visualized detailed spin configurations using the spin model and demonstrated that the spin states are directly related to magnetic phases characterized by progressive reversal of the angle-dependent torque across spin-flop transition. The flexibility of the anisotropic spin Hamiltonian approach has broad applicability to other antiferromagnetic materials.
- Hyun Jun Shin
- Jin Seok Kim
- Young Jai Choi
