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arXiv · 2604.07245

Atomic-Scale Detection of N\'eel Vector Switching in the Single-Layer A-type Antiferromagnet Cr2S3-2D

Affan Safeer·Calisa Dias·Mahdi Ghorbani-Asl·Abdallah Karaka·Pradyumna Bawankule·Weibin Li·Pierluigi Gargiani·Wouter Jolie·Arkady V. Krasheninnikov·Amilcar Bedoya-Pinto·Thomas Michely·Jeison Fischer
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Abstract

The detection of N\'eel vector switching in a single-layer A-type antiferromagnet marks an important step toward functional two-dimensional spintronics. Here, Cr$_2$S$_3$-2D, grown on graphene on Ir(110), is established as a first single-layer A-type antiferromagnet. Spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscopy reveals hysteresis loops with a large switching field and a pronounced dependence on island size. X-ray magnetic circular dichroism at the Cr L$_{2,3}$ edges exhibits a tiny signal with a linear magnetic field dependence, consistent with a nearly compensated antiferromagnetic ground state and a N\'eel temperature of about 160 K. Quantitative analysis of the island-size dependence of the switching field, together with first principles calculations, indicates a slight imbalance between the magnetic moments of the two Cr planes of Cr$_2$S$_3$-2D when supported on a substrate. This imbalance results in a net magnetization for the A-type antiferromagnet, which enables the 180$^\circ$ rotation of the N\'eel vector. Moreover, Cr$_2$S$_3$-2D retains its magnetic properties after several days of exposure to air.

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Affan Safeer, Calisa Dias, Mahdi Ghorbani-Asl, Abdallah Karaka, Pradyumna Bawankule, Weibin Li, Pierluigi Gargiani, Wouter Jolie, Arkady V. Krasheninnikov, Amilcar Bedoya-Pinto, Thomas Michely, Jeison Fischer. 2026-04-08. Atomic-Scale Detection of N\'eel Vector Switching in the Single-Layer A-type Antiferromagnet Cr2S3-2D. https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.74637

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