Long-range magnetic order with disordered spin orientations in a high-entropy antiferromagnet.
basic_science · Level V
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- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 41792130.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1038/s41467-026-70184-x and PMC identifier 13087282.
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Abstract
Disorder in magnetic systems typically suppresses long-range order, promoting short-range states such as spin glasses and magnetic clusters. This is particularly prominent in high-entropy materials, characterized by the random distributions of local magnetic entities and exchange interactions. However, in rare exceptions, long-range magnetic order can persist in high-entropy systems, while the microscopic characters and underlying mechanisms remain elusive, especially the magnetic behaviors of individual elements. Here, combining neutron diffraction and resonant soft x-ray scattering, we have conducted an element-specific investigation into the magnetic order of a high-entropy honeycomb-lattice van der Waals material (Mn<sub>1/4</sub>Fe<sub>1/4</sub>Co<sub>1/4</sub>Ni<sub>1/4</sub>)PS<sub>3</sub>. Despite significant atomic disorder, long-range zigzag antiferromagnetic order is observed below 72 K, with all four transition-metal elements participating in a unified phase transition. However, the spin orientations of various elements are distinct, attributed to the competition between single-ion anisotropies and exchange interactions. Our findings showcase a novel form of long-range magnetic order with disordered spin orientations, which is synergically stabilized by distinct magnetic elements in a high entropy magnet, offering a new paradigm for understanding complex magnetic systems.