Electronic structure and magnetic properties of the graphene/Fe/Ni(111) intercalation-like system

Abstract

The electronic structure and magnetic properties of the graphene/Fe/Ni(111) system were investigated via combination of the density functional theory calculations and electron-spectroscopy methods. This system was prepared via intercalation of thin Fe layers (1 ML) underneath graphene on Ni(111) and its inert properties were verified by means of photoelectron spectroscopy. Intercalation of iron in the space between graphene and Ni(111) changes drastically the magnetic response from the graphene layer that is explained by the formation of the highly spin-polarized 3d(z(2)) quantum-well state in the thin iron layer.

Atomic and electronic structure of simple metal/graphene and complex metal/graphene/metal interfaces

“…Magnetic properties of nickel/graphene interfaces were studied both experimentally [29][30][31] and theoretically 25 ; appreciable induced magnetic moments in carbon atoms of Ni(111)-supported graphene were found to be between 0.05-0.1 µ B . Even larger induced magnetic moments, 0.2-0.25 µ B , were observed in Feintercalated graphene on Ni substrate 32,33 .…”

“…Although simple interfaces have already attracted considerable attention 8,10,23 , complex interfaces consisting of a single metallic adlayer on a simple graphene/metal system, either on top or between the graphene and metallic substrate, are less understood 7,[32][33][34][35] . Such complex interfaces are of particular interest in connection with experiments on intercalation of metals through graphene.…”

Local electronic properties of the graphene-protected giant Rashba-split BiAg2 surface

“…This property is particularly exciting when graphene is deposited or formed on the surface of a ferromagnet or a material which exhibits strong spin-orbit interaction [13][14][15][16][17][18][19]. Here, interfacial contact between graphene and the respective material might lead to the appearance of different new phenomena in graphene and at the interface, such as induced magnetism in graphene [20][21][22], possible induced spin-orbit splitting of the graphene π states [23,24], conservation of spin-polarized electron emission from the underlying ferromagnetic material [13,15], etc.Previously published works on the adsorption of graphene on the surfaces of heavy materials, such as Ir (111) and Au(111), demonstrate that such contacts only weakly modify the dispersion of the spin-orbit split surface states of the metal surface. Adsorption of graphene merely leads to a rigid shift of the respective surface states to smaller binding energies [16,25,26], which was explained by the stronger localization of the surface state wave function, leading to a corresponding energy shift.…”

Cobalt intercalation at the graphene/iridium(111) interface: Influence of rotational domains, wrinkles, and atomic steps

“…For example, the intercalation of noble metals [2,3] or hydrogen atoms [4] can be used to reduce the interaction between graphene and its substrate, and even restore the electronic properties of free-standing graphene, while the intercalation of alkali metals is an efficient mean to control the doping level of graphene [5]. Intercalation of a ferromagnetic transition metal can also enhance the net magnetic moment induced in carbon atoms when graphene is in contact with a magnetic surface [6], and is a promising route to fabricate graphene/ferromagnetic metal hybrid structures with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy [7,8].Understanding where and how a foreign species intercalates below graphene is a challenging task, and different scenarios have been proposed. While oxygen intercalates at the free edges of graphene grown on Ru(0001) [9, 10] and on Ir(111) [11], alkali metals instead may intercalate at the substrate step edges or at boundaries between different rotational domains in graphene/Ni(111) [5] and in graphite [12].…”

“…For example, the intercalation of noble metals [2,3] or hydrogen atoms [4] can be used to reduce the interaction between graphene and its substrate, and even restore the electronic properties of free-standing graphene, while the intercalation of alkali metals is an efficient mean to control the doping level of graphene [5]. Intercalation of a ferromagnetic transition metal can also enhance the net magnetic moment induced in carbon atoms when graphene is in contact with a magnetic surface [6], and is a promising route to fabricate graphene/ferromagnetic metal hybrid structures with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy [7,8].…”