Defect-Induced Magnetism in Fullerenes and MoS2

Magnetic ordering in materials that do not have partially filled d or f orbitals is a topic of interest in recent years. The presence of defects can break lattice symmetry, modify the energy landscape, and create quantum confinement, inter-layer interactions in layered solids leading to fascinating properties different from the ideal 2D sheets. In this chapter, defect-induced magnetic ordering in fullerene thin films and 2D transition metal dichalcogenide MoS₂ are discussed. It was found that energetic proton beams can induce magnetic ordering in C₆₀ films and MoS₂, and in the case of MoS₂ the magnetization displays a Curie temperature above room temperature.