The Origin of 2D van der Waals Magnetism

Over the past decade, research into two-dimensional (2D) magnetic materials, often referred to as van der Waals magnets, has grown into one of the most dynamic fields in quantum materials science.

While many exciting discoveries have been made, the early history of the field is often oversimplified or misrepresented. As someone fortunate to be part of the field from its beginning, I have created this personal archive to document my group’s foundational contributions, starting with the first demonstration of monolayer FePS3 in 2016, and even earlier conceptual efforts dating back to 2010.

I share this archive not only for credit, but also to help preserve the scientific memory of how this field began, and to offer insight for students, historians, and researchers interested in how discovery unfolds, often quietly and before the spotlight arrives.