Altermagnetism from the viewpoint of chemistry

Magnetism has been a central theme of research in chemistry, physics, and materials science, with chemical composition and bonding playing key roles in determining magnetic behavior. Altermagnets are a newly identified class of magnetic materials that combine features of conventional ferromagnets and antiferromagnets, arising from specific symmetry and electronic structure motifs. In this review, we present a chemistry-driven viewpoint on altermagnetism, highlighting how crystal chemistry, bonding, and electronic structure enable this unconventional magnetic order. We begin by introducing the fundamental concepts required to understand altermagnets, with an emphasis on symmetry considerations, orbital character, and electronic structure signatures. We then survey the diverse material families in which altermagnetism has been identified, including pnictides, oxides, and metal-organic and covalent-organic frameworks, drawing attention to coordination environments and structure-property relationships that favor altermagnetic order. We subsequently present experimental approaches which are useful for the synthesis and characterization of altermagnetic materials. We examine ab initio materials discovery as a promising strategy for identifying new altermagnets, emphasizing how chemical constraints, such as symmetry and bonding, can guide computational searches. Other than their intrinsic importance, altermagnets provide interesting possibilities for technology. For this reason, we highlight possible applications that may be enabled through altermagnetic materials, along with their coupling with existing orders such as ferroelectricity and superconductivity. In conclusion, we point out some challenges and prospects, where chemically-based design guidelines can play an important role towards advancing altermagnetism research. In summary, this review offers an account of recent developments in altermagnetism, from basic concepts to the current state-of-the-art.