A research team led by Prof. Shao Dingfu from the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has predicted a new class of antiferromagnetic materials with unique cross-chain structures, termed “X-type antiferromagnets.” These materials exhibit sublattice-selective spin transport and unconventional magnetic dynamics, offering new possibilities for next-generation spintronic devices.

Published in Newton, this work challenges conventional views of collective atomic behavior in solids and promises transformative applications in next-generation electronics.

Antiferromagnets (AFMs) are valued for their zero net magnetization and ultrafast dynamics, making them attractive for spintronics. However, their practical application has been hindered by mutual spin cancellation between magnetic sublattices, which limits spin current control. The newly proposed X-type AFMs, with their distinctive “X”-shaped intersecting chain geometry, overcome this limitation.