A team from the College of Integrated Circuits and Optoelectronic Chips at Shenzhen Technology University (SZTU) has revealed novel pressure-induced magnetic transformations within van der Waals (vdW). Published in Nature Communications, their work presented the change in interaction dynamics that drives the transition from a helimagnetic to an antiferromagnetic state.

Schematic illustration of the transition of magnetic structure in NiI2 [Photo/https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-59561-0]

VdW magnets have emerged as an intellectually captivating frontier, revealing a rich tapestry of magnetic phenomena. The researchers investigate NiI2 flakes, a representative vdW magnet, under hydrostatic pressures up to 11 GPa. They observed a notable increase in the magnetic transition temperatures for both helimagnetic and antiferromagnetic states. The findings indicate that a reversible transition between helimagnetic and antiferromagnetic (AFM) phases at approximately 7 GPa challenges established theoretical and experimental expectations. Experimental and simulated results converge on the existence of an intermediate helimagnetic ordered state in NiI2 before transitioning to the AFM state. These findings underscore the pivotal role of interlayer interactions in shaping the magnetic ground state, providing fresh perspectives for innovative applications in nanoscale magnetic device design.

The magnetic phase diagram of the NiI2 flake as a function of pressure and temperature. [Photo/https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-59561-0]

Visiting scholar Liu Qiye co-first-authored the study, with SZTU as the lead institution and Prof. Dai Junfeng as the corresponding author. Collaborators from Southern University of Science and Technology, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, and Yangzhou University provided theoretical support.

Drafted by Daisy（姚琦）/ International Cooperation and Exchanges Department

Revised by Brian（郑斌）/ International Cooperation and Exchanges Department

Edited by Brian（郑斌）/ International Cooperation and Exchanges Department