English

Non-relativistic spin splitting in a triangular metal-excess magnet Fe$_{1+δ}$Sb

Materials Science 2026-08-01 v1

Abstract

Non-relativistic spin-splitting (NRSS) antiferromagnets have recently emerged as an important class of magnetic materials that combine compensated magnetism with momentum-dependent spin splitting, offering new opportunities for spintronic applications. Here, we investigate a NiAs-type Fe1+δ_{1+\delta}Sb series (δ=0.17\delta = 0.17-0.30) using neutron diffraction, pair distribution function, magnetometry and density functional theory calculations. Neutron diffraction establishes that Fe1+δ_{1+\delta}Sb adopts a 120120^\circ coplanar compensated magnetic order with a non-zero propagation vector k=(1/3,1/3,0)\mathbf{k}=(1/3,\,1/3,\,0). Increasing interstitial Fe suppresses the ordered magnetic moment while inducing local symmetry lowering, as revealed by pair distribution function refinements. Density functional theory predicts momentum-dependent spin splitting, dominated by an out-of-plane spin polarization with an odd-parity f-wave-like symmetry, establishing the material as a non-collinear NRSS antiferromagnet. Motivated by the structural similarities between Fe1+δ_{1+\delta}Sb and a known altermagnet CrSb, we further investigate their solid solution and find that Cr substitution at intermediate concentrations gives rise to a ferromagnetic component and a cluster spin-glass behavior. These results establish Fe1+δ_{1+\delta}Sb as a new platform for non-collinear NRSS antiferromagnetism and demonstrate metal interstitial and substitution as effective parameters for tuning the magnetic order and properties.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2608.00871,
  title  = {Non-relativistic spin splitting in a triangular metal-excess magnet Fe$_{1+δ}$Sb},
  author = {Chao-Chun Wei and Xiaojuan Ni and Sophia Adams and Jacob Kjeldahl Jensen and Jue Liu and Qiang Zhang and Luisa Whittaker-Brooks and Huiwen Ji},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2608.00871},
  year   = {2026}
}