Exploring novel two-dimensional multiferroic materials that can realize electric-field control of two-dimensional magnetism has become an emerging topic in spintronics. Using first-principles calculations, we demonstrate that nonmetallic bilayer transition-metal dichalcogenides can be an ideal platform for building multiferroics by intercalated magnetic atoms. Moreover, we unveil that with Co intercalated bilayer ${\mathrm{MoS}}_2, \mathrm{Co}{\left(\mathrm{Mo}{\mathrm{S}}_2\right)}_2$, two energetically degenerate states with opposite chirality of Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction are the ground states, indicating electric-field control of the chirality of topological magnetic objects such as skyrmions can be realized in this type of materials by reversing the electric polarization. These findings pave the way for electric-field control of topological magnetism in two-dimensional multiferroics with intrinsic magnetoelectric coupling.

• Received 1 June 2021
• Revised 23 March 2022
• Accepted 19 April 2022

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.105.174404