Atomic structure and large magnetic anisotropy in air-sensitive layered ferromagnetic VI 3 .

We report the air-sensitivity, atomic structure, and magnetic anisotropy of VI 3 single crystals. We find that VI 3 nanocrystals exhibit a large M R / M S ratio of around 0.75 and a uniaxial anisotropic constant of an order of 10 5 erg cc -1 below the Curie temperature. Furthermore, density functional theory calculations reveal that both the monolayer and bulk VI 3 are ferromagnetic insulators, and the magnetic moment of the system arises mainly from the d orbital of the V atom. These findings open a feasible avenue to fabricating TEM specimens of air-sensitive layered materials, providing an in-depth comprehensive understanding of a layered ferromagnetic VI 3 .