A team of researchers, led by University of Texas at Dallas scientists, has developed a new technique to grow exceptionally large, high-quality crystals that could help make advanced electronics, such as spintronic and magnetic optoelectronic devices, a reality. Very thin layers — just one or two atoms thick — can be exfoliated easily from the bulk crystals. “Typically, this magnetic ordering — the alignment of spins — takes place instantaneously in a material,” Lv said. “This is the first time this phenomenon has been observed in chromium sulfide bromide crystals. “That’s why in many cases, crystals have to be capped with an inert material.