Nanoparticles of Fe x GeTe2 ( x = 3; 5) as Magnetic Catalysts: A Perspective

FexGeTe2 (x = 3; 5) are van der Waals magnets which, under the right conditions, can attain above-room-temperature Curie temperatures (TC). Owing to their high TC, their persistent spin order holds potential for a myriad of nanodevice applications both at and beyond room temperature. While the applications of thin films of these metallic two-dimensional ferromagnets have been explored in depth, use of their nanoparticles as catalysts for applications in green chemistry remains an untapped territory. Here, recent experimental investigations providing insights into the catalytic behavior of FexGeTe2 are discussed. Furthermore, employing in operando synchrotron-based X-ray radiation techniques in order to detect spectroscopic fingerprints of magnetic ordering in nanoparticles of FexGeTe2 is also proposed as a unique tool to gain fundamental insights into the role of their spin polarization in the catalytic process. This perspective is expected to endorse future research on the use of FexGeTe2 as magneto-catalysts for green chemistry.