Prospects and Opportunities of 2D van der Waals Magnetic Systems

TLDR

Spontaneous magnetization in low‑dimensional magnetic systems has been a focus of research since the 1960s, and recent interest has turned to van der Waals materials that retain magnetic order down to a few layers at finite temperature. The authors aim to review the current status of two‑dimensional van der Waals magnetic systems and explore their potential applications, thereby providing a platform to study the transition of magnetism to the 2D limit. The layered structure of van der Waals magnets, combined with onsite magnetic anisotropy from band electrons, suppresses long‑range fluctuations and stabilizes magnetic order.

Abstract

Abstract The existence of spontaneous magnetization in low dimensional magnetic systems has attracted intensive studies since the early 60s and research remains very active even now. Only recently, magnetic van der Waals (vdW) systems down to a few layers have been broadly discussed for their magnetic order ground states at finite temperature. The naturally inherited layered structure of the vdW magnetic systems possessing onsite magnetic anisotropy from band electrons can suppress the long‐range fluctuations. This provides an excellent vehicle to study the transition of magnetism to 2D limits both theoretically and experimentally. Here the current status of 2D vdW magnetic system and its potential applications are briefly summarized and discussed.