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Updated: Aug 6, 2026
08:45
Fabrication of Spatially Confined Complex Oxides
Published on: July 1, 2013
Semiconducting and magnetic lanthanide MXenes from intercalated halides
Qian Fang1,2, Liming Wang1,3, Kai Chang3
1Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo, China.
Nature
|July 22, 2026
Summary
Researchers developed a new bottom-up method to create lanthanide (Ln) MXenes (Ln₂CT₂), enabling novel 2D magnetic semiconductors. These materials show tunable semiconducting and magnetic properties for spintronics.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Two-dimensional (2D) magnetic semiconductors are essential for advanced information storage and spintronics.
- MXenes offer tunable properties for functional material design.
- Lanthanide incorporation introduces spin polarization and semiconducting behavior, but synthesis is challenging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a general 'bottom-up' synthesis method for lanthanide MXenes (Ln₂CT₂).
- To investigate the structure-property relationships of Ln₂CT₂ materials.
- To explore the potential of Ln₂CT₂ for spintronic applications.
Main Methods:
- Utilized layered halides as van der Waals building blocks for synthesis.
- Employed optical absorption spectroscopy to determine band gaps.
- Measured electrical resistivity and magnetic properties (hysteresis, Curie-Weiss temperature).
- Performed theoretical calculations to understand electronic structure and magnetism.
Main Results:
- Successfully synthesized Ln₂CT₂ (Ln = Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Lu; T = Cl, Br) using a bottom-up approach.
- Observed tunable optical absorption onsets (1.26–1.71 eV) and room-temperature resistivity (0.329–36.1 Ω·cm) with negative temperature coefficients.
- Demonstrated low-temperature ferromagnetic hysteresis at 2 K with positive Curie-Weiss temperatures (6–59 K).
- Theoretical calculations revealed band gap opening due to surface terminals and spin splitting from localized 4f electrons.
Conclusions:
- The bottom-up synthesis provides a viable route to lanthanide MXenes (Ln₂CT₂).
- Ln₂CT₂ materials exhibit a unique combination of semiconducting and magnetic properties.
- These findings position Ln₂CT₂ as promising candidates for next-generation spintronic devices.
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