Graphene Lattices with Embedded Transition-Metal Atoms and Tunable Magnetic Anisotropy Energy: Implications for Spintronic Devices
- Rostislav LangerRostislav LangerRegional Centre of Advanced Technologies and Materials, Czech Advanced Technology and Research Institute (CATRIN), Palacký University Olomouc, 779 00 Olomouc, Czech RepublicDepartment of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Palacký University Olomouc, 779 00 Olomouc, Czech RepublicMore by Rostislav Langer
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- Kimmo MustonenKimmo MustonenFaculty of Physics, University of Vienna, Boltzmanngasse 5, A-1090 Vienna, AustriaMore by Kimmo Mustonen
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- Alexander MarkevichAlexander MarkevichFaculty of Physics, University of Vienna, Boltzmanngasse 5, A-1090 Vienna, AustriaMore by Alexander Markevich
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- Michal OtyepkaMichal OtyepkaRegional Centre of Advanced Technologies and Materials, Czech Advanced Technology and Research Institute (CATRIN), Palacký University Olomouc, 779 00 Olomouc, Czech RepublicIT4Innovations, Technical University of Ostrava, 708 00 Ostrava-Poruba, Czech RepublicMore by Michal Otyepka
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- Toma Susi*Toma Susi*Email: [email protected]Faculty of Physics, University of Vienna, Boltzmanngasse 5, A-1090 Vienna, AustriaMore by Toma Susi
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- Piotr Błoński*Piotr Błoński*Email: [email protected]Regional Centre of Advanced Technologies and Materials, Czech Advanced Technology and Research Institute (CATRIN), Palacký University Olomouc, 779 00 Olomouc, Czech RepublicMore by Piotr Błoński
Abstract
Doping of the graphene lattice with transition-metal atoms resulting in a high magnetic anisotropy energy (MAE) is an important goal of materials research owing to its potential application in spintronics. In this article, using spin-polarized density functional theory including spin–orbit coupling, we examined the magnetic properties of graphene with vacancy defects, both bare and nitrogen-decorated, and doped by Cr, Mn, and Fe transition-metal single atom (TM-SA) and two different TM atoms simultaneously. The adsorption of a second TM atom on an already embedded TM atom, i.e., the formation of upright TM dimers, was also considered. It is found that the graphene-mediated coupling between TM dopants can significantly increase MAE compared to that of SA impurities. While the MAE of TM-SA did not exceed 2 meV, it was enhanced to −23 meV for Cr and Fe simultaneously embedded into two separated double-vacancy (DV) defects and to a remarkably high value of 119.7 meV for two upright Fe–Mn dimers bound to two separate DVs, considerably exceeding the sum for individual TM-SAs. The latter MAE corresponds to a blocking temperature of 34 K assuming a relaxation time of 10 years. The origin of the enhanced MAE is discussed in relation to the spin excitations at the Fermi level and changes in d-derived states accompanying the rotation of the magnetization between in-plane and out-of-plane directions. We demonstrate that the presence of partially occupied degenerate states at the Fermi level favors its formation. The stability of the systems is also discussed. The computational findings are supplemented by an atomic-resolution characterization of an incidental Mn impurity bonded to four carbon atoms, whose localized spin matches expectations as measured using core-level electron energy-loss spectroscopy. Conducting TM-doped graphene with robust magnetic features offers prospects for the design of graphene-based spintronic devices.
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