A research team from the Jülich Research Centre in Germany has published findings in Physical Review Letters, successfully developing the first experimentally verified two-dimensional half-metal material. This novel material conducts electricity only for electrons with a single spin direction, offering new possibilities for the development of spintronics.

The material consists of an ultra-thin alloy of iron and palladium, with a thickness of just two atoms. Team member Xin Liang Tan stated: "This material does not require a perfect crystal structure, and its electronic properties can be tuned by the iron content." The team used spin-resolved momentum microscopy to confirm the material's two-dimensional half-metallic properties, breaking the limitation of traditional half-metals requiring operation at ultra-low temperatures.

The study shows that when spin-orbit coupling and magnetic exchange from iron atoms achieve precise balance, the material exhibits unique conductive properties. Dr. Chen Yingjun noted: "This discovery overturns the traditional view that spin-orbit coupling hinders the formation of half-metallicity." The new material maintains stable performance at room temperature, is compatible with existing thin-film technologies, and has practical application potential.

This two-dimensional half-metal can serve as a foundational component for spin filters and spin-orbit torque systems, with potential applications in next-generation memory chips. Its characteristic of opposite spin polarization to magnetization direction may also provide new ideas for the development of nanoscale magnetic devices.