Anisotropic and Temperature-Independent Magnetic Susceptibility Peak in MoSe_1.8Te_0.2 van der Waals Layers

Temperature-independent susceptibility peaks were identified under an out-of-plane magnetic field in layered MoSe1.8Te0.2. Raman spectroscopy was employed to analyze the vibrational modes associated with the 1T and 2H phases. The oxidation states of Mo, Se, and Te were determined using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, confirming the presence of both phases. A hysteresis loop, along with a magnetic moment splitting between zero-field-cooled and field-cooled states, was observed under an out-of-plane magnetic field. In contrast, no susceptibility peaks or signatures of ferromagnetism were detected when an in-plane magnetic field was applied. The observed susceptibility peaks in our samples were correlated with ferromagnetic behavior. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy and scanning tunneling microscopy revealed that the susceptibility peak originates from ferromagnetism induced by lattice misalignment.