Graphene nanoislands
Graphene
nanoislands are nanometric sized regions of graphene. They have been
observed on Ru surfaces. Also chemist are able to synthetize a variety
of flat graphene-based molecules known as nanographenes.
We have studied graphene nanoislands with zigzag edges. The simplest
islands with that shape are triangles and hexagons. We have found
that triangles have a net magnetic moment, localized in the edges, that
scales with the size of the island. Hexagons always have total zero
magnetic moment but sufficiently large islands display spin polarized
edges with opposite polarization (see figure). The minimal size for the
appearence of polarization in the edge of hexagon islands is 2nm.
The fact that carbon-based nanostructures can be magnetic is very
surprising. To know more:
Our paper:
"Magnetism in Graphene Nanoislands", J. Fernández-Rossier and J. J. Palacios,
Phys. Rev. Let. 99, 177204 (2007)
Online article for non-experts in Nanotech web:
"Graphene nanoislands go magnetic" (link)
Experimental work:
J. Wu, W. Pisula, K. Mullen, "Graphene Molecules as Potential Material for Electronics", Chem. Rev., 2007, 107, 718-747. (link to web of professor Wu)
Amadeo Vázquez de Parga et al., "Periodically rippled graphene: growth and spatially resolved electronic structure" http://arxiv.org/abs/0709.0360
Our paper:
"Magnetism in Graphene Nanoislands", J. Fernández-Rossier and J. J. Palacios,
Phys. Rev. Let. 99, 177204 (2007)
Online article for non-experts in Nanotech web:
"Graphene nanoislands go magnetic" (link)
Experimental work:
J. Wu, W. Pisula, K. Mullen, "Graphene Molecules as Potential Material for Electronics", Chem. Rev., 2007, 107, 718-747. (link to web of professor Wu)
Amadeo Vázquez de Parga et al., "Periodically rippled graphene: growth and spatially resolved electronic structure" http://arxiv.org/abs/0709.0360
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