Polaron-mediated anisotropic exchange in 2D magnets

TL;DR

This paper shows how localized electron polarons can be used to control and tune magnetic interactions in 2D magnets, offering a new approach for designing atomic-scale magnetic devices.

Contribution

The study introduces a novel mechanism where electron polarons modulate magnetic exchange interactions and induce anisotropy in 2D magnets, demonstrated through first-principles calculations.

Findings

Polarons can locally break magnetic symmetry.

Polarons induce anisotropic exchange couplings.

Potential for atomic-scale magnetic control in spintronics.

Abstract

Two-dimensional (2D) magnets offer a rich platform for exploring emergent spin phenomena due to their unique and diverse magnetic properties. Beyond intrinsic magnetism, external manipulation$\unicode{x2013}$such as defect engineering, molecular adsorption, or charge doping$\unicode{x2013}$offers powerful routes to control their magnetic behavior. In this work, we demonstrate that localized electron polarons provide an effective means to modulate magnetism in 2D magnets. Using first-principles calculations, we investigate polaron formation in monolayer MnPS$_3$ and compute the resulting changes in magnetic exchange interactions. Our results reveal that polarons can locally break magnetic symmetry and induce anisotropic exchange couplings, highlighting a novel mechanism for tuning magnetic textures. This insight opens promising pathways for designing atomic-scale control of magnetism, with potential impact on spintronic technologies.