- Letter
Interface engineering and electric control of magnetocrystalline anisotropy in two-dimensional magnets
Phys. Rev. B 113, L020406 – Published 12 January, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/t4pq-9vmq
Abstract
Two-dimensional (2D) magnetic materials provide an ideal platform for atomic-scale engineering of both structural and magnetoelectric (ME) properties. Through first-principles density functional theory calculations, we systematically investigate the magnetic and electronic properties of monolayer , Janus-type , and heterostructures under vertical electric fields. Remarkably, both the Janus structure () and the heterostructure demonstrate more than tenfold enhancement in magnetocrystalline anisotropy energy tunability compared to pristine . This dramatic enhancement originates from symmetry-breaking effects: in pristine and monolayers, the inherent mirror symmetry leads to cancellation of net ME responses, whereas in the engineered asymmetry in Janus and heterostructure systems, subsurface layers play a predominant role in ME effects. These fundamental insights not only advance our understanding of 2D ME phenomena but also provide a clear design strategy for developing next-generation, electric-field-tunable spintronic devices.