Progress in Physics

Recent advances in the magnetism of layered transition-metal compounds

XU Jie, ZHANG Yaling, LIU Xiaoxuan, WANG Yuanyuan, XUE Tingyuan, GU Liang, MAN Xiaoxiao, ZHANG Huisheng

2026, 46 (2): 51-71. doi: 10.13725/j.cnki.pip.2026.02.00`

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Layered transition-metal compounds (LTMCs) feature stacked architectures, strong magnetic anisotropy, and tunable magnetic order, making them promising material platforms for low-power spintronic technologies and for enabling topological functionalities in the post-Moore era. Here we review recent progress on two-dimensional (2D) magnetism in LTMCs, emphasizing material taxonomy, intrinsic magnetic properties, and external-field controls. This review first presents a classification of LTMCs by crystal structure and chemistry —binary halides, chalcogenides, and ternary families (e.g., MPX₃, MmXnTek, MnBi₂Te₄) —followed by a summary of their coupling mechanisms, ordering temperatures, and dimensional effects. It then analyzes the modulation of exchange interactions, magnetic anisotropy, and topological states by electric-field gating, strain engineering, and ion intercalation, with representative experimental demonstrations. Notable advances include room-temperature ferromagnetic metals and semiconductors, observation of the quantum anomalous Hall effect (QAHE) in MnBi₂Te₄, and synergistic control of magnetic-topological states under multiple external stimuli. Persistent challenges involve the limited availability of intrinsic 2D magnetic semiconductors with high Curie temperatures (TC), incomplete understanding of the microscopic couplings at interfaces and under quantum confinement, and device-level stability. We conclude by outlining opportunities that lie in the integration of multiscale characterization, first-principles theory, and cross-scale fabrication to precisely co-engineer magnetism, topology, and electronic structure, thereby advancing LTMCs toward spintronic and topological-quantum applications

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Thermodynamic–kinetic description of solar-driven evaporation processes

TANG Chuan, TANG Qiyun, LI Xiuqiang, MA Yuqiang, ZHU Jia

2026, 46 (2): 72-97. doi: 10.13725/j.cnki.pip.2026.02.002

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This paper systematically reviews the thermodynamic and kinetic theoretical framework for solar-driven evaporation processes, aiming to provide a systematic theoretical foundation for this multiscale, multiphysics-coupled photo-thermal evaporation phenomenon. First, from a thermodynamic perspective, it elaborates on the phase equilibrium conditions, free energy structure, and phase diagram representations involved in evaporation, covering vaporliquid phase equilibrium descriptions for both single-component fluids and multicomponent mixtures. Second, from a kinetic viewpoint, the analysis focuses on pathways to break vaporliquid phase equilibrium: one involves driving evaporation by altering the thermodynamic state of the gas phase (e.g., pressure reduction); another involves driving evaporation by modifying the thermodynamic state of the liquid phase (e.g., localized interfacial heating), which is the core mechanism of photothermal evaporation; and the third introduces kinetic theories based on gas- or liquid-phase diffusion combined with moving boundary conditions under a simplified diffusion-dominated framework. Furthermore, the paper integrates experimental studies on photothermal evaporation to examine the influence of geometric constraints-particularly nanoconfinement effects-on evaporation behavior and energy transport pathways, and reviews engineering application strategies and performance evaluation methods in confined systems, such as two-dimensional water pathways and porous structures. Finally, it outlines current theoretical bottlenecks and future research directions. By integrating thermodynamic equilibrium analysis with kinetic evolution mechanisms, this paper attempts to offer theoretical insights for understanding and designing efficient and stable solar-driven evaporation systems.

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Molecular dynamics study of shock-induced collapse of non-spherical nanobubbles

LI Chengwei, XIANG Yuanyuan, YAO Hongbing

2026, 46 (2): 98-105. doi: 10.13725/j.cnki.pip.2026.02.003

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This study employs molecular dynamics methods to investigate the dynamic process of collapse of near-ellipsoidal non-spherical cavitation bubbles induced by shock waves. On the one hand, the collapse process of non-spherical bubbles is similar to that of spherical bubbles, both characterized by compression and rupture stages, accompanied by the generation of high-speed microjets. On the other hand, due to the combined effects of spatial dimensions and surface tension, the initial angle between the major axis of the non-spherical bubble and the shock wave systematically influences the bubble’s collapse time, jet velocity, and jet angle. It was found that the collapse time and jet velocity decreased as the initial angle increased, while the jet angle reached its maximum when the initial angle was 45◦ . The universality of this conclusion was verified using bubbles of different sizes.

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