The detection of N\'eel vector switching in a single-layer A-type antiferromagnet marks an important step toward functional two-dimensional spintronics. Here, Cr2S3-2D, grown on graphene on Ir(110), is established as a first single-layer A-type antiferromagnet. Spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscopy reveals hysteresis loops with a large switching field and a pronounced dependence on island size. X-ray magnetic circular dichroism at the Cr L2,3 edges exhibits a tiny signal with a linear magnetic field dependence, consistent with a nearly compensated antiferromagnetic ground state and a N\'eel temperature of about 160 K. Quantitative analysis of the island-size dependence of the switching field, together with first principles calculations, indicates a slight imbalance between the magnetic moments of the two Cr planes of Cr2S3-2D when supported on a substrate. This imbalance results in a net magnetization for the A-type antiferromagnet, which enables the 180∘ rotation of the N\'eel vector. Moreover, Cr2S3-2D retains its magnetic properties after several days of exposure to air.
@article{arxiv.2604.07245,
title = {Atomic-Scale Detection of N\'eel Vector Switching in the Single-Layer A-type Antiferromagnet Cr2S3-2D},
author = {Affan Safeer and Calisa Dias and Mahdi Ghorbani-Asl and Abdallah Karaka and Pradyumna Bawankule and Weibin Li and Pierluigi Gargiani and Wouter Jolie and Arkady V. Krasheninnikov and Amilcar Bedoya-Pinto and Thomas Michely and Jeison Fischer},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2604.07245},
year = {2026}
}