Nanoscale magnetic field imaging for 2D materials

Nanoscale magnetic imaging can provide microscopic information about length scales, inhomogeneity and interactions of materials systems. As such, it is a powerful tool to probe phenomena such as superconductivity, Mott insulating states and magnetically ordered states in 2D materials, which are sensitive to the local environment. This Technical Review provides an analysis of weak magnetic field imaging techniques that are most promising for the study of 2D materials: magnetic force microscopy, scanning superconducting quantum interference device microscopy and scanning nitrogen-vacancy centre microscopy. The ability to image nanometre-scale magnetization and current density is key to deciphering the physics of correlated states hosted in 2D layered materials. This Technical Review analyses the magnetic imaging techniques most amenable to these systems, compares their capabilities and limitations, and discusses their potential impact.