  Layered transition-metal dichalcogenides are proposed as building blocks for
van der Waals (vdW) heterostructures due to their graphene-like two dimensional
structure. For this purpose, a magnetic semiconductor could represent an
invaluable component for various spintronics and topotronics devices. Here, we
combine different local magnetic probe spectroscopies with angle-resolved
photoemission and density-functional theory calculations to show that 2H-MoTe2
is on the verge of becoming magnetic. Our results present clear evidence that
the magnetism can be "switched on" by a hydrogen-like impurity. We also show
that this magnetic state survives up to the free surface region, demonstrating
the material's potential applicability as a magnetic component for thin-film
heterostructures.
