Identifying the effects of phosphorus on the magnetism of WS 2 nanosheets

To identify the effects of phosphorus on the magnetism of WS 2 , the magnetic properties of phosphatized WS 2 (PWS 2 ) nanosheets with varying phosphorus concentrations are studied by experimental research and firstprinciple calculations. Our experimental findings demonstrate that all P-WS 2 samples exhibit distinct orderedmagnetic signatures (ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic), and the saturation magnetization varies with the phosphorus concentration. First -principle calculations reveal that phosphorus atoms preferentially occupy sulfur vacancies, inducing magnetic moments in WS 2 nanosheets. Phosphorus atoms occupying sulfur vacancies in the same sulfur atom layer exhibit ferromagnetic coupling, while those in two sulfur atom layers of a monolayer exhibit antiferromagnetic coupling. The magnetic properties of P-WS 2 can be tuned by controlling the position and concentration of phosphorus atoms. Increasing the concentration of phosphorus atoms occupying sulfur vacancies in the same sulfur atom layer is a viable approach to enhance the magnetism of P-WS 2 . This study clarifies the effects of phosphorus on the magnetism of WS 2 nanosheets and will promote its application in spintronics.