What the study found
The study found 180 materials with significant altermagnetic spin splitting. These candidates include both metallic and semiconducting systems.
Why the authors say this matters
The authors say altermagnetism offers promising prospects for next-generation spintronics applications because it can produce sizable spin splitting in materials made of light, earth-abundant elements. The study suggests that expanding the catalog of known altermagnets provides a foundation for future experimental and theoretical work in spintronics and quantum materials discovery.
What the researchers tested
The researchers performed a high-throughput screening of 2,287 entries in the MAGNDATA database. They combined symmetry analysis with spin-polarized density functional theory (DFT, a quantum-mechanical calculation method) and examined collinear structures as well as collinear versions of materials reported as noncollinear.
What worked and what didn't
The workflow identified 180 materials with significant spin splitting. The authors also highlight UCr2Si2C, NbMnP, and YRuO3 as representative cases with large spin splitting, and they report 9 bulk altermagnets with chemically equivalent 2D counterparts linked to the same ICSD parent entry.
What to keep in mind
The abstract does not describe experimental validation of the candidate materials. It also does not provide detailed limitations beyond noting that spin splitting varies strongly across the Brillouin zone, with maximal splitting often occurring away from high-symmetry paths.
Key points
- A screening of 2,287 MAGNDATA entries found 180 materials with significant altermagnetic spin splitting.
- The candidates span both metallic and semiconducting systems.
- The authors used symmetry analysis and spin-polarized density functional theory calculations.
- UCr2Si2C, NbMnP, and YRuO3 are highlighted as representative large-splitting cases.
- Spin splitting varies strongly across the Brillouin zone and is often largest away from high-symmetry paths.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- High-throughput screen identifies 180 altermagnetic materials
- Authors:
- Ali Sufyan, Brahim Marfoua, Johan Larsson, Erik G. C. P. van Loon, Rickard Armiento
- Institutions:
- Linköping University, Linköping University, Luleå University of Technology, Luleå University of Technology, Lund University, Lund University
- Publication date:
- 2026-04-24
- DOI:
- 10.1103/mmdm-hrj4
- OpenAlex record:
- View
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