Tunable synthesis of atomic one-dimensional VxTey magnets within single-walled carbon nanotubes.

Abstract

The unstable configurations and uncontrollable stoichiometric ratios of atomically-thick one-dimensional (1D) magnets pose challenges for practical applications. Here, we employ a spatially confined domain strategy to obtain 1D vanadium tellurides (V_xTe_y) with distinctive stoichiometry within single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). Confined by SWCNTs with different inner diameters, three unconventional air-stable V_xTe_y can be generated: 1D 1H-VTe₂, V₆Te₆, and VTe₃. Atomically resolved electron microscopy systematically unveils the conformational distributions of these three phases inside SWCNTs. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations indicate that these diverse V_xTe_y phases exhibit different intrinsic electronic structures, which correspond to ferromagnetic, antiferromagnetic, and non-magnetic properties. Furthermore, the magnetic response and magnetic anisotropy of the 1D V_xTe_y@SWCNTs assembly are experimentally confirmed. This work highlights the preparation of air-stable atomic 1D magnets, offering promising solutions for the design of next-generation spintronic devices.