Insight into the quantum anomalous Hall states in two-dimensional kagome Cr3Se4 and Fe3S4 monolayers

Abstract

To realize the quantum anomalous Hall (QAH) effect in two-dimensional (2D) intrinsic magnetic materials, which combines insulating bulk states and metallic edge channel states, is still challenging in experiment. Here, based on first-principles calculations, we predicted two stable kagome-latticed QAH insulators: Cr₃Se₄ and Fe₃S₄ monolayers, with the Chern number C = 1. It is found that both structures exhibit a large magnetic anisotropy energy and sizable band gaps, and a topological phase transition from C = −1 to C = 1 occurs when the magnetization orientation changes from the z-axis to the −z-axis. Remarkably, the non-trivial topological properties are robust against biaxial strains of up to ±6%. Furthermore, a variable high Chern number of C = 2 or C = 3 can be observed by stacking two or three layers of the QAH monolayer with an MoS₂ insulator. Our results signify that such layered kagome materials can be promising platforms for exploring novel QAH physics.