Pressure-Modulated Structural and Magnetic Phase Transitions in Two-Dimensional FeTe: Tetragonal and Hexagonal Polymorphs

Two-dimensional (2D) Fe chalcogenides with their rich structures and properties are highly desirable for revealing the torturous transition mechanism of Fe chalcogenides and exploring their potential applications in spintronics and nanoelectronics. Hydrostatic pressure can effectively stimulate phase transitions between various ordered states, allowing one to successfully plot a phase diagram for a given material. Herein, the structural evolution and transport characteristics of 2D FeTe were systematically investigated under extreme conditions by comparing two distinct symmetries, i.e., tetragonal (t) and hexagonal (h) FeTe. We found that t-FeTe presented a pressure-induced transition from an antiferromagnetic state to a ferromagnetic state at similar to 3 GPa, corresponding to the tetragonal collapse of the layered structure. Contrarily, the ferromagnetic order of h-FeTe was retained up to 15 GPa, which was evidently confirmed by electrical transport and Raman measurements. Furthermore, T-P phase diagrams for t-FeTe and h-FeTe were mapped under delicate critical conditions. Our results can provide a unique platform to elaborate the extraordinary properties of Fe chalcogenides and further develop their applications.