Scalable Synthesis of Ultrathin Mn₃N₂ Exhibiting Room‐Temperature Antiferromagnetism

Abstract

Ultrathin and 2D magnetic materials have attracted a great deal of attention recently due to their potential applications in spintronics. Only a handful of stable ultrathin magnetic materials have been reported, but their high-yield synthesis remains a challenge. Transition metal (e.g., manganese) nitrides are attractive candidates for spintronics due to their predicted high magnetic transition temperatures. Here, a lattice matching synthesis of ultrathin Mn 3 N 2 is employed. Taking advantage of the lattice match between a KCl salt template and Mn 3 N 2 , this method yields the first ultrathin magnetic metal nitride via a solution-based route. Mn 3 N 2 flakes show intrinsic magnetic behavior even at 300 K, enabling potential room-temperature applications. This synthesis procedure offers an approach to the discovery of other ultrathin or 2D metal nitrides.

MXene monolayer Mn2ZnN2: a promising robust intrinsic half-metallic nanosheet

“…The 3D and 2D Mn 3 N 2 are both the research hotspots of spintronic materials and they had both been synthesized recently [42,43]. The nanosheet Mn 3 N 2 is a kind of anti-ferromagnetic 2D material [42]. Our calculated in-plane lattice constant (2.884 Å) of 2D Mn 3 N 2 approaches to the experimental value 2.974 Å of 3D Mn 3 N 2 [43].…”

“…N-Mn bonds of 2D Mn 3 N 2 have two kinds of bondlengths including 1.917 Å and 2.089 Å. The latter is almost equal to the experimental value 2.100 Å of ultrathin Mn 3 N 2 flake [42]. From table 1, the in-plane lattice constant of the MXene nanosheet Mn 2 ZnN 2 is about 2.979 Å, which is a little larger than 2.884 Å of 2D Mn 3 N 2 .…”

Surface and Interface Regulation of MXenes: Methods and Properties

“…had successfully prepared Mn 3 N 2 with a lateral size over 1 µm on the substrate of KCl based on lattice matching in NH 3 atmosphere (salt‐templated strategies). [ 72 ] The MXenes with uniform O termination obtained by CVD method shows favorable surface quality, which is conducive to further explore the intrinsic performance of MXenes. However, for obtaining atom‐thin MXenes using the CVD method, finding a preparation process with high yield, controllable atom ratios and layer thickness, and low synthesis cost is still a huge challenge, which arises a strict demand for the control of thermodynamic conditions.…”

Synthesis and Properties of Monolayer MnSe with Unusual Atomic Structure and Antiferromagnetic Ordering

“…On the basis of literature searching and querying the 2D materials database, 15,39,40 we found only one synthesized 2D material with similar antiferromagnetic ordering: Mn 3 N 2 , which was recently synthesized using a salt-templated growth in solution. 41 Such ordering could be very promising for spintronic applications, such as spin filters, since the spin degeneracy can be lifted by, e.g., electric potential varying in the out-of-plane direction (Figure S14). Curiously, we found that a similar effect is already taking place in our NbSe 2 /MnSe heterostructure, where the interaction of the MnSe with NbSe 2 on one side leads to lifting of the spin degeneracy.…”