probed with neutron scattering

Materials in which the spin and electronic interactions are confined to two-dimensional (2D) layers offer routes to enhanced quantum behavior and potential functionality in next generation devices. Consequently, there has been recent interest in a class of materials that host isolated 2D layers weakly connected by van der Waals (vdW) bonding. These 2D vdW materials show intriguing behavior in the bulk and can often be isolated down to a few or single layers. We present results using elastic and inelastic neutron scattering on powder samples that reveal detailed insights into the magnetic interactions in two systems: CrPS₄ and MnPSe₃. The data allow the intralayer and interlayer exchange interactions to be extracted through model spin Hamiltonians. The implications of the magnetic interactions determined on the underlying behavior is discussed.