Controlling and Tuning the Magnetic Ground State in an Intercalated Transition Metal Dichalcogenide*

It is possible to engineer magnetism in layered TMDs XS₂ (X=transition metal) via intercalation of magnetic transition metals. In particular, iron intercalation (1/3 Fe per X site) introduces a two-dimensional magnetic sublattice between XS₂ layers. Despite adopting identical crystal structures with near-identical lattice parameters, the magnetic ground states of Fe_1/3NbS₂ and Fe_1/3TaS₂ are antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic, respectively. Due to their chemical similarity, these two materials can form end members of an alloying series Fe_1/3Nb_1-xTa_xS₂. Due to the different magnetic orderings of its end members, this alloying series permits the substitutional control of the magnetic ground state of the material system. I will present our thermodynamic measurements and findings.