Embedding Transition-Metal Atoms in Graphene: Structure, Bonding, and Magnetism

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© 2009 American Physical Society (APS). This is the accepted version of the following article: Krasheninnikov, A. V. & Lehtinen, P. O. & Foster, A. S. & Pyykkö, P. & Nieminen, Risto M. 2009. Embedding Transition-Metal Atoms in Graphene: Structure, Bonding, and Magnetism. Physical Review Letters. Volume 102, Issue 12. 126807/1-4. ISSN 0031-9007 (printed). DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.102.126807, which has been published in final form at http://journals.aps.org/prl/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevLett.102.126807.

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Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

School of Science | A1 Alkuperäisartikkeli tieteellisessä aikakauslehdessä

Date

2009

Major/Subject

Mcode

Degree programme

Language

en

Pages

126807/1-4

Series

Physical Review Letters, Volume 102, Issue 12

Abstract

We present a density-functional-theory study of transition-metal atoms (Sc–Zn, Pt, and Au) embedded in single and double vacancies (SV and DV) in a graphene sheet. We show that for most metals, the bonding is strong and the metal-vacancy complexes exhibit interesting magnetic behavior. In particular, an Fe atom on a SV is not magnetic, while the Fe@DV complex has a high magnetic moment. Surprisingly, Au and Cu atoms at SV are magnetic. Both bond strengths and magnetic moments can be understood within a simple local-orbital picture, involving carbon sp2 hybrids and the metal spd orbitals. We further calculate the barriers for impurity-atom migration, and they agree well with available experimental data. We discuss the experimental realization of such systems in the context of spintronics and nanocatalysis.

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Keywords

graphene, transition metals, impurities

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Citation

Krasheninnikov, A. V. & Lehtinen, P. O. & Foster, A. S. & Pyykkö, P. & Nieminen, Risto M. 2009. Embedding Transition-Metal Atoms in Graphene: Structure, Bonding, and Magnetism. Physical Review Letters. Volume 102, Issue 12. 126807/1-4. ISSN 0031-9007 (printed). DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.102.126807.