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Recently, two-dimensional magnetic materials (2DMMs) have become a focused research direction in a broad range of two-dimensional materials, due to their underlying significance in fundamental research, as well as in technologically relevant applications for future spintronics, magnonics, quantum information and data storage. The rich toolbox of 2DMMs and their diverse tunability have enabled the unprecedented research concerning the two-dimensional magnetic order down to single atomic layer of materials, much beyond the classical thin film magnetism, showing an extremely promising avenue towards electronics, magneto-optics and photonics. Among various degrees of freedoms, the interaction between spin and phonon (i.e., quanta of lattice vibration), hence the so-called spin-phonon coupling, serves as an important tuning knob to explore the two-dimensional magnetism, creates new types of quasiparticles and controls the magnetic order. This review overviews the latest developments in spin-phonon coupling investigations in 2DMMs. Various techniques utilizing spin-phonon coupling to investigate two-dimensional magnetism are discussed. Recent progress in tuning two-dimensional magnetic order based on spin-phonon coupling is also summarized, with a focus to understand the new functionalities. Furthermore, device developments and concepts based on spin-phonon coupling are briefly discussed. This review will provide our perspectives on the existing challenges and future directions in spin-phonon coupling research in 2DMMs and their functional devices.

Stimuli-responsive inorganic–organic hybrid metal halides (IOMHs) have shown great potential in sensing, information encryption and anti-counterfeiting, etc. However, the stimuli-responsive behavior based on the regulation of the functional groups in organic species is still blank in IOMHs. Herein, three zero-dimensional (0-D) antimony-based IOMHs with different functional groups in the organic cations are reported, namely [AOEMIm]3SbCl6 (1, AOEMIm = 1-acetoxyethyl-3 methylimidazolium), [HOOCMMIm]3SbCl6·3(OOCMMIm) (2, HOOCMMIm = 1-carboxymethyl-3-methylimidazolium) and [HOOCMMIm]3SbCl6 (3). Photophysical characterizations show that 1, 2 and 3 exhibit typical self-trapped exciton triplet broadband emission, peaking at 610, 510 and 525 nm under excitation of 365 nm, 375 nm and 345 nm, respectively. Under the H2O stimulation, the organic groups in the crystal structures undergo a mutual transformation, that is, from acetoxyethyl or carboxyl to a mixture of carboxyl and deprotonated carboxyl. Accordingly, the organic group switching is accompanied by a solid–solid transformation from 1 or 2 to 3 crystals. The intrinsic mechanism for the phase transition is expounded as well. Due to the obvious luminescence change from yellow-green emission (3) to green emission (2), 3 is further applied in the detection of trace water in organic solvents. The water detection limit in tetrahydrofuran (THF) is as low as 0.3% v/v. This study provides a new avenue for the construction of stimuli-responsive IOMHs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, the first F-containing iodate-phosphate, namely Ba2Ga2F6(IO3)(PO4), was prepared via a hydrothermal reaction, in which HPF6 (70 wt% solution in water) was used as the source of both fluoride and phosphate anions for the first time. Ba2Ga2F6(IO3)(PO4) features an unprecedented 1D [Ga2F6(IO3)(PO4)]4− helix chain, composed of a 1D Ga(1)(IO3)O4F chain via the bridging of 0D Ga(2)(PO4)F5. The UV-Vis spectrum shows that Ba2Ga2F6(IO3)(PO4) has a wide bandgap with a short-UV absorption edge (4.35 eV; 253 nm). Birefringence measurement under a polarizing microscope shows that Ba2Ga2F6(IO3)(PO4) displays a moderate birefringence of 0.072@550 nm, which is consistent with the value (0.070@550 nm) obtained by DFT calculations, indicating that Ba2Ga2F6(IO3)(PO4) has potential applications as a short-UV birefringent material. This study highlights the crucial role played by the incorporation of specific functional groups into compounds, shedding light on their contribution to promising inorganic functional materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid development of white LEDs, the research of new and efficient white light emitting materials has attracted increasing attention. Zero dimensional (0D) organic–inorganic hybrid metal halide perovskites with superior luminescent property are promising candidates for LED application, due to their abundant and tailorable structure. Herein, [(CH3)3S]2SnCl6·H2O is synthesized as a host for dopant ions Bi3+ and Sb3+. The Sb3+ doped, or Bi3+/Sb3+ co-doped, [(CH3)3S]2SnCl6·H2O has a tunable optical emission spectrum by means of varying dopant ratio and excitation wavelength. As a result, we can achieve single-phase materials suitable for emission ranging from cold white light to warm white light. The intrinsic mechanism is examined in this work, to clarify the dopant effect on the optical properties. The high stability of title crystalline material, against water, oxygen and heat, makes it promising for further application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lead-based two-dimensional organic–inorganic hybrid perovskites (2D HOIPs) are popular materials with various optical properties, which can be tuned through metal ion doping. Due to the size and valence misfit, metal ion dopants in 2D lead-based HOIPs are still limited. In this work, Mn2+, Sb3+ and Bi3+ are doped into 2D (HDA)2PbBr4 (HDA = protonated dopamine) successfully. As a result, the dopants in 2D (HDA)2PbBr4 can induce their characteristic optical spectra, which is studied at different temperatures and excitation powers. The temperature-dependent energy transfer in the Mn-doped sample has been clarified, in which abnormal phenomena including negative thermal quenching have been observed. In addition, the dopant ions can impact the phase transition temperatures of the samples, especially lowering their crystallization temperatures greatly. The mussel-inspired organic cation, feasible metal ion regulation, and superior stability provide (HDA)2PbBr4 potential for further applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]