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Size-dependent energy splitting of unoccupied electronic states in antiferromagnetic monolayer Mn nanoislands

Yu-Tung Lin1, Yung-Chun Chao2, Guan-Yi Huang1, Ching-Yen Lin2, Shun-Ping Chou1, Chia-Ju Chen1, Allan H. MacDonald3, Chih-Kang Shih3, Jung-Jung Su2,* et al.

Pin-Jui Hsu1,4,†

  • *Contact author: jungjsu@nycu.edu.tw
  • †Contact author: pinjuihsu@phys.nthu.edu.tw
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Phys. Rev. Materials 10, 044401 – Published 2 April, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/4bd1-y268

Abstract

Quantum size effect (QSE) on the electronic structures of nanoscale antiferromagnets with a monolayer (ML) thickness is of fundamental importance in antiferromagnetic (AFM) spintronics. Here, we have carried out systematic studies on the size-dependent unoccupied electronic states of ML Mn nanoislands on Ag(111) by employing scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy (STM/STS) together with density-functional theory (DFT). According to bias-dependent height profiles, a lower apparent height has been found on the larger Mn island within a bias voltage range of ±1.0eV, suggesting a smaller Mn–Ag interlayer distance. Additionally, a single broad dI/dU peak from small Mn islands gradually evolves into two distinct peaks at approximately 1.3eV (peak 1) and 1.5eV (peak 2) as the island size increases. On top of that, peaks 1 and 2 move about 0.37±0.05eV and 0.30±0.03eV toward lower energy positions when the area size of the ML Mn island increases. Given the projected density of states (PDOS) deduced from orbital-dependent electronic band structures of ML Mn/Ag(111), two unoccupied dI/dU peaks originate from the contributions of out-of-plane Mn-3d orbitals. Further PDOS comparison analyses reveal that the Mn–Ag interlayer coupling develops a stronger energy shift in unoccupied states than the Mn–Mn atomic bonding, yielding the two-peak feature in dI/dU spectra resolved experimentally.

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Phys. Rev. Materials 10, 044401– Published 2 April, 2026
  • Received 25 November 2025
  • Accepted 4 March 2026
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