Two‐dimensional (2D) van der Waals magnets show strong interconnection between their electrical, magnetic, and structural properties. Here, the emergence of a luminescent transition is revealed upon crossing the Néel transition… Click to show full abstract
Two‐dimensional (2D) van der Waals magnets show strong interconnection between their electrical, magnetic, and structural properties. Here, the emergence of a luminescent transition is revealed upon crossing the Néel transition temperature of CrPS4, a layered antiferromagnetic semiconductor. This luminescent transition occurs above the lowest absorption level. The optical transitions are attributed to excited states of the t2g orbitals of the Cr3+ ions, which are influenced by the distortion of the octahedral crystal field. Specifically, the vicinity of the Néel temperature, the distortion switches from an anti‐polar to a polar arrangement, thereby not only promoting an additional luminescent pathway but also significantly strengthening the static dipole moment detected by a marked enhancement in the intensity of the second harmonic generation. These results strongly encourage further investigation into the multiferroic properties and potential coupling mechanisms in CrPS4.
               
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