Graphene-based synthetic antiferromagnets and ferrimagnets
Gargiani, Pierluigi (Laboratori de Llum del Sincrotró ALBA)
Quadrado del Burgo, Ramón (Institut Català de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia)
Vasili, Hari Babu (Laboratori de Llum del Sincrotró ALBA)
Pruneda, Miguel (Institut Català de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia)
Valvidares, Manuel (Laboratori de Llum del Sincrotró ALBA)

Date:	2017
Abstract:	Graphene-spaced magnetic systems with antiferromagnetic exchange-coupling offer exciting opportunities for emerging technologies. Unfortunately, the in-plane graphene-mediated exchange-coupling found so far is not appropriate for realistic exploitation, due to being weak, being of complex nature, or requiring low temperatures. Here we establish that ultra-thin Fe/graphene/Co films grown on Ir(111) exhibit robust perpendicular antiferromagnetic exchange-coupling, and gather a collection of magnetic properties well-suited for applications. Remarkably, the observed exchange coupling is thermally stable above room temperature, strong but field controllable, and occurs in perpendicular orientation with opposite remanent layer magnetizations. Atomistic first-principles simulations provide further ground for the feasibility of graphene-spaced antiferromagnetic coupled structures, confirming graphene's direct role in sustaining antiferromagnetic superexchange-coupling between the magnetic films. These results provide a path for the realization of graphene-based perpendicular synthetic antiferromagnetic systems, which seem exciting for fundamental nanoscience or potential use in spintronic devices.
Grants:	European Commission 676598 European Commission 665919 Agencia Estatal de Investigación FIS2016-78591-C3-2-R Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad FIS2015-64886-C5-3-P Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad MAT2014-59315-R Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad FIS2013-45469-C4-3-R Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad SEV-2013-0295 Agència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca 2014/SGR-301
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, la comunicació pública de l'obra i la creació d'obres derivades, fins i tot amb finalitats comercials, sempre i quan es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Published in:	Nature communications, Vol. 8 (September 2017) , art. 699, ISSN 2041-1723

DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-00825-9
PMID: 28951545

10 p, 1.0 MB

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Research literature > UAB research groups literature > Research Centres and Groups (research output) > Experimental sciences > Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2)
Research literature > UAB research groups literature > Research Centres and Groups (research output) > Experimental sciences > The ALBA Synchrotron
Articles > Research articles
Articles > Published articles