Recent progress of the exchange bias based on 2D van der Waals ferromagnet

Abstract

Exchange bias (EB) is a central mechanism in spintronics, enabling unidirectional magnetic anisotropy, enhanced coercivity, and stable pinned magnetic states through interfacial exchange coupling. Two‐dimensional (2D) van der Waals (vdW) magnets offer a new platform for engineering EB at the atomic scale, where sharp interfaces, reduced dimensionality, tunable interlayer coupling, and strong magnetic anisotropy give rise to unconventional interfacial spin phenomena. This review summarizes the recent progress in EB in 2D vdW magnetic heterostructures. We discuss the fundamental principles, key parameters, and theoretical models of EB followed by representative vdW systems based primarily on ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic materials. Particular attention is given to interfacial mechanisms including uncompensated spins, oxidation‐induced pinning, charge transfer, magnetic proximity effects, and spin–orbit coupling. We further examine external control strategies such as electric‐field tuning, thermal modulation, optical excitation, and strain engineering, as well as emerging applications in field‐free spin–orbit‐torque switching, magnetic tunnel junctions, spin‐filter devices, and nonvolatile memories. Finally, we outline the key challenges of thermal stability, interface reproducibility, and scalable fabrication. This review provides a compact framework for understanding and designing EB in 2D vdW heterostructures for future spintronic and quantum‐enabled technologies.