Cr_0.5Ga_0.5Te₂: A near-room temperature semiconducting 2D van der Waals ferromagnet

The discovery of two-dimensional (2D) van der Waals ferromagnet has revitalized interest in low-dimensional magnetism. Here, we report the synthesis and comprehensive physical-property characterization of the layered and exfoliable ferromagnetic semiconductor Cr_0.5Ga_0.5Te₂. This compound crystallizes in the trigonal space group P3, featuring Te vacancies in two sites. It exhibits ferromagnetic ordering below 216 K, with a saturated moment of 4.6 µ_B/Cr at 1.8 K and pronounced magnetic anisotropy, with easy axis along the crystallographic c-direction. We further demonstrate that Cr_0.5Ga_0.5Te₂ can be exfoliated down to the monolayer limit. The compound is a narrow gap (~100 meV) magnetic semiconductor in bulk. The combination of its semiconducting nature, near-room-temperature ferromagnetism and excellent exfoliability establishes Cr_0.5Ga_0.5Te₂ as a compelling new 2D van der Waals ferromagnet.