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Updated: Jul 25, 2025

Methods of Ex Situ and In Situ Investigations of Structural Transformations: The Case of Crystallization of Metallic Glasses
Published on: June 7, 2018
Ferromagnetism emerged from non-ferromagnetic atomic crystals
Cheng Gong1,2, Peiyao Zhang1,3, Tenzin Norden3
1Nano-scale Science and Engineering Center (NSEC), 3112 Etcheverry Hall, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA.
Researchers converted antiferromagnetic materials into ferromagnetic ones by interfacing them with tungsten disulfide (WS2). This discovery broadens the scope of two-dimensional (2D) magnets for spintronic devices.
Area of Science:
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Two-dimensional (2D) ferromagnetic materials are crucial for next-generation spintronic devices.
- The limited variety of 2D magnets restricts their application range.
- Converting antiferromagnetic materials to ferromagnetic ones could expand the possibilities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the potential of interfacing antiferromagnetic materials with non-magnetic 2D materials.
- To investigate the emergence of ferromagnetism at interfaces.
- To characterize the magnetic properties of such heterostructures.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of heterostructures by interfacing non-magnetic WS2 with antiferromagnetic FePS3.
- Measurement of the enhanced Zeeman effect in WS2.
- Analysis of interfacial exchange field and its dependence on WS2 thickness.
Main Results:
- Emergent ferromagnetism was observed at the WS2-FePS3 interface.
- WS2 exhibited an enhanced Zeeman effect with a significant interfacial exchange field (~38 Tesla).
- The magnetic properties showed a strong dependence on the WS2 layer thickness.
Conclusions:
- Interfacing non-magnetic WS2 with antiferromagnetic FePS3 can induce ferromagnetism.
- This approach significantly enhances the magnetic properties of WS2.
- The layer-tailorable interfacial coupling in WS2-FePS3 heterostructures opens new avenues for designing 2D spintronic devices.
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