Direct Observation of Magnetic Bubble Lattices and Magnetoelastic Effects in van der Waals Cr₂Ge₂Te₆

Ferromagnetic van der Waals (vdW) materials are of large current interest for the fundamental study of low-dimensional magnetism and for potential applications in multilayer heterostructures. Cr₂Ge₂Te₆ (CGT) is particularly exciting because it is a ferromagnetic semiconductor with tunable electronic and magnetic properties. Controlling the magnetic domain structure of CGT is a requirement for understanding its novel interface physics and for tuning behavior for potential devices. Herein, cryo-Lorentz transmission electron microscopy is performed in the temperature range of 12–50K to directly image the magnetic domain structures in CGT. A rich phase diagram of domain structures including stripe domains, magnetic bubble lattices of mixed-chirality, and topologically-protected lattices of homochiral magnetic bubbles is observed. The types and chiralities of the bubbles can be controlled by topographical changes in the CGT flakes. Additionally, it is observed that in-plane strain and magnetoelastic coupling can align and organize both bubble lattices and stripe domains. This study provides insights into creating and controlling complex magnetic domain structures for integration into multilayer heterostructures and for future studies of 2D magnetism.