Abstract
Emerging two-dimensional magnetic semiconductors represent transformative platforms to explore magneto-optics and opto-spintronic applications. Though two-dimensional opto-spintronics has attracted tremendous research efforts in spin-dependent photodetectors and non-volatile memory components, the realization of one core application - spin-modulated light-emitting device - remains elusive so far. Here, we successfully realize prototype spin-modulated light-emitting device integrated with a two-dimensional semiconducting magnet chromium sulfide bromide, demonstrating considerable electroluminescence down to bilayers. Intriguingly, it's discovered to be directly manipulated by spin-flip and spin-canting transitions. Notably, the intrinsic carrier-tunable interlayer magnetic coupling in chromium sulfide bromide enables electroluminescence to actively amplify magnetic hysteresis (via spin-flip) and continuously tune magnetic order (via spin-canting) with robust anisotropy, establishing a connection between carrier injection, magnetic phase transitions, and optical emission. The prototype demonstration of spin-modulated light-emitting device establishes an indispensable scheme of opto-spintronic devices leveraging two-dimensional spin transitions and strong excitonic effects, presenting a critical step towards integrated two-dimensional opto-spintronics.
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The data that support the findings of this study are available in the main text and Supplementary Information. Additional data may be obtained from the corresponding author upon request. Source data are provided with this paper.
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Acknowledgements
This project was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (No. 2021YFA 1200800), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 62261160386, Nos. 12574129 and Nos. U25A7001), the Start-up Funds of Wuhan University, the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (2042024kf0010), and the Open Research Fund of the Pulsed High Magnetic Field Facility (Grant Nos. WHMFC2024015 and WHMFC2024017), Huazhong University of Science and Technology.
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F.L.Q. and H.Y.L. contributed equally to this work. F.L.Q. H.Y.L., S.L., X.Z. L. and T.Y. conceived the project and designed the experiments. Device fabrication and experimental measurements were performed by F.L.Q., H.Y.L., Y.L.L., A.S.Y., X.J.W., Y.S., X.Y.Z., Z.S., J.Y.Z. and X.L. Data analysis and processing were carried out by F.L.Q., H.Y.L., S.L., X.Z.L. and T.Y. The manuscript was written by F.L.Q. and H.Y.L., with revisions contributed by S.L., X.Z.L., V.L.Z., W.B.G. and T.Y.
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Nature Communications thanks Yunqiu Kelly Luo who co-reviewed with Thow Min Cham; Nannan Luo and the other anonymous reviewer(s) for their contribution to the peer review of this work. A peer review file is available.
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Qin, F., Liu, H., Yang, A. et al. Spin-transition modulated light-emitting devices in a 2D magnet. Nat Commun (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-71489-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-71489-7
