Magnetic criticality and magnetocaloric response in and
Phys. Rev. B 114, 144405 – Published 4 September, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/y5tx-5vm7
Abstract
and are antiferromagnetic topological insulators belonging to the series, where structural layering provides a natural route to tune magnetic interaction in van der Waals magnets. Despite extensive interest in their topological properties, how the insertion of quintuple layers modifies magnetic critical fluctuations near the antiferromagnetic transition remains unresolved. Here, we combine scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), critical scaling analysis and magnetocaloric measurements to directly correlate real-space structures with magnetic criticality. STM reveals atomically flat septuple-layer terraces in , whereas displays coexisting septuple and quintuple-layer terminations reflecting its alternating stacking sequence. exhibits robust three-dimensional Ising-like critical behavior together with a distinct low-temperature first-order transition. In contrast, displays crossover-dominated criticality arising from weakened interlayer exchange and competing magnetic phases. Correspondingly, the magnetocaloric response differs significantly between the two compounds. shows dual-type magnetocaloric behavior with a sharp field-induced sign reversal of the isothermal magnetic entropy change (). It exhibits both inverse () and conventional () magnetocaloric effects. In contrast, shows only conventional magnetocaloric response with a broad positive entropy peak. These results establish structural layering as a key parameter governing magnetic critical fluctuations and magnetocaloric behavior in topological magnets.