Spin Hall magnetoresistive detection of easy-plane magnetic order in the van der Waals antiferromagnet NiPS3

Magnetic van der Waals materials offer a physical paradigm for studying two-dimensional (2D) magnetic systems. 2D antiferromagnets (AFMs) are of great interest in the emerging field of AFM spintronics where interaction between local AFM moments and a spin current is fully utilized. Here, we report on spin Hall magnetoresistance (SMR) in the ${\mathrm{NiPS}}_{3}/\mathrm{Pt}$ system. The magnetic field and temperature dependence of the resistivity change unambiguously revealed the magnetic properties of ${\mathrm{NiPS}}_{3}$, such as the easy-plane anisotropy and the N\'eel temperature. As SMR is a manifestation of the magnetic moments interacting with the spin current that is an essential requirement in spintronics, our results open an avenue for 2D AFM spintronics.