A team of researchers led by Abdelghani Laraoui, mechanical and materials engineering, has earned a spot on the inside front cover of Advanced Functional Materials for their breakthrough study on the magnetic properties of an unusual material: tungsten disulfide (WS₂).
Two-dimensional (2D) magnets, such as WS₂, are attracting worldwide attention because they could open the door to powerful new technologies, ranging from ultra-efficient computer chips to advanced light-based electronics. Unlike traditional magnets, 2D magnets are just a few atoms thick—offering a playground for scientists exploring exotic physics and potential applications in “spintronics,” a field that uses the spin of electrons (not just their charge) to carry information.
Until now, researchers had only seen hints that WS₂ might have weak magnetism. But this new study provided direct visual proof. Using a cutting-edge technique called quantum diamond magnetometry, which relies on diamond crystals packed with special defects that are sensitive to tiny magnetic fields, the team imaged thin flakes of WS₂, both in their natural state and after implanting iron atoms.
What they found was striking: magnetism clustered along the edges of the WS₂ flakes, rather than spreading evenly across them. These edge signals appeared consistently across different material thicknesses and increased predictably when an external magnetic field was applied. Computer simulations backed up the experimental findings, suggesting that the edges host “canted” magnetic spins—tiny atomic magnets tilted slightly off-axis due to competing magnetic forces.
This discovery makes WS₂ a promising platform for edge-controlled 2D spintronics, where magnetic behavior could be engineered and harnessed at the boundaries of ultra-thin materials.
Being highlighted on the cover of such a prestigious journal underscores the significance of this work. As researchers push further, edge-driven 2D magnets like WS₂ could become building blocks for a new generation of electronics that are smaller, faster, and more energy efficient.
