Neutron scattering of a potential room temperature van der Waals antiferromagnet

The lack of air-stability and the absence of near room temperature (RT) magnetic ordering remain key roadblocks for the wide-range use of 2D magnets in spintronics. We have synthesized an air-stable, easily exfoliable and high mobility 2D vdW single crystals and powder samples of TaCo2Te2 that have shown indications for long-range AFM ordering at RT as discussed below. We observed distinct first-order transitions in magnetic susceptibility vs temperature plots near 380 K and 560 K (Figure 1c) in multiple TaCo2Te2 crystals which could correspond to high temperature Néel transitions or structural transitions. We have synthesized a phase pure TaCo2Te2 powder sample weighing around 0.5 grams specifically for neutron scattering measurements which also maintain phase stability at elevated temperatures in vacuum sealed setup. The general description of spin ordering in TaCo2Te2 requires more sensitive probing techniques such as neutron scattering for acquiring conclusive evidence of AFM ordering. The goal of the neutron scattering measurements is twofold : (1) to confirm the existence and nature of AFM ordering in TaCo2Te2 near/beyond the room temperature and to explore the magneto-structural transitions observed in the magnetization data around 400 and 550 K; (2) to understand the coupling between the Peierls distortion and the magnetic ordering in TaCo2Te2. To perform the experimental plan detailed above we request 1 day of beam time considering set up and temperature changes.