Short range magnetic correlations in van der Waals 2D materials analyzed using neutron scattering

TL;DR

Researchers used neutron scattering to study how magnetic correlations change in 2D materials by substituting non-magnetic atoms.

Contribution

The study reveals how non-magnetic substitutions can modulate magnetic correlations in van der Waals materials.

Findings

Substituting S/Se anions modulates magnetic correlation length and spin angle in MnPSxSe3-x materials.

Inelastic neutron scattering quantifies changes in magnetic exchange interactions across the series.

Short-range magnetic correlations in CrPS4 evolve continuously under varying magnetic field conditions.

Abstract

Two-dimensional layered materials, where magnetic layers are linked through van der Waals (vdW) bonding provides a promising platform for spintronics applications and quantum behavior. However, realizing their full potential requires a deeper understanding of their spin behavior across different length scales. In this study, we investigated the local magnetic correlations of bulk antiferromagnetic vdW materials MnPSe3, MnPS3 and CrPS4 using neutron scattering using the magnetic pair distribution function (mPDF) technique. We explore short-range magnetic correlations in a systematic series of MnPSxSe3-x (x=0, 1, 1.5, 2,3) powder samples with neutron total scattering data. Our results reveal that substituting S/Se anions, despite being non-magnetic, tunes both atomic structure and enables the gradual modulation of magnetic correlation length and spin angle. Complementary inelastic neutron scattering measurement further quantify changes in the magnetic exchange interactions, highlighting the continuous evolution of spin correlations across the series. Additionally, short-range magnetic correlations of CrPS4 were analyzed and modeled using the mPDF technique in the paramagnetic regime, under both zero-field and applied magnetic field conditions.