Thursday 23 January 2025
Scientists have discovered a new way to create magnetic materials on graphene, a type of carbon material that is just one atom thick. This breakthrough could lead to the development of more efficient and compact devices for storing data and manipulating magnetism.
Graphene is known for its unique properties, including its ability to conduct electricity and heat well. It also has a high surface area-to-volume ratio, making it an ideal material for creating tiny magnetic structures.
To create these magnetic structures, researchers used a technique called atomic manipulation, which involves using a scanning tunneling microscope (STM) to move individual atoms around on the graphene surface. By carefully arranging the atoms in specific patterns, the researchers were able to create different types of magnetic materials with unique properties.
One type of material they created is known as an altermagnet, which has a net zero magnetization but still exhibits spin-split bands. This means that it can be used for applications such as data storage and manipulation without generating any heat or other unwanted effects.
Another type of material they created is called a Lieb ferrimagnet, which has a similar structure to the altermagnet but with a different arrangement of atoms. This material also has zero net magnetization but exhibits spin-split bands, making it suitable for use in devices that require precise control over magnetic fields.
The researchers used a combination of experiments and theoretical calculations to study the properties of these materials. They found that by carefully controlling the arrangement of atoms on the graphene surface, they could create different types of magnetic structures with unique properties.
This breakthrough has the potential to revolutionize the field of spintronics, which is the study of the manipulation of spin in materials for applications such as data storage and processing. The development of more efficient and compact devices that can manipulate magnetism without generating heat or other unwanted effects could have significant implications for a wide range of technologies.
For example, this technology could be used to create more efficient magnetic sensors, which are used in a variety of applications including navigation systems, medical imaging, and consumer electronics. It could also be used to develop new types of data storage devices that are faster and more energy-efficient than current technologies.
Overall, the discovery of these new magnetic materials on graphene has significant implications for the field of spintronics and could lead to the development of more efficient and compact devices for manipulating magnetism.
Cite this article: “Graphene-Based Magnetic Materials Promise Efficient Spintronics Devices”, The Science Archive, 2025.
Graphene, Magnetic Materials, Atomic Manipulation, Scanning Tunneling Microscope, Spintronics, Data Storage, Magnetism, Altermagnet, Lieb Ferrimagnet, Spin-Split Bands.
