Single spin localization and manipulation in graphene open-shell nanostructures
Jingcheng Li,
Sofia Sanz,
Martina Corso,
Deung Jang Choi,
Diego Peña,
Thomas Frederiksen and
Jose Ignacio Pascual ()
Additional contact information
Jingcheng Li: CIC nanoGUNE
Sofia Sanz: Donostia International Physics Center (DIPC)
Martina Corso: Donostia International Physics Center (DIPC)
Deung Jang Choi: Donostia International Physics Center (DIPC)
Diego Peña: Universidade de Santiago de Compostela
Thomas Frederiksen: Donostia International Physics Center (DIPC)
Jose Ignacio Pascual: CIC nanoGUNE
Nature Communications, 2019, vol. 10, issue 1, 1-7
Abstract:
Abstract Turning graphene magnetic is a promising challenge to make it an active material for spintronics. Predictions state that graphene structures with specific shapes can spontaneously develop magnetism driven by Coulomb repulsion of π-electrons, but its experimental verification is demanding. Here, we report on the observation and manipulation of individual magnetic moments in graphene open-shell nanostructures on a gold surface. Using scanning tunneling spectroscopy, we detect the presence of single electron spins localized around certain zigzag sites of the carbon backbone via the Kondo effect. We find near-by spins coupled into a singlet ground state and quantify their exchange interaction via singlet-triplet inelastic electron excitations. Theoretical simulations picture how electron correlations result in spin-polarized radical states with the experimentally observed spatial distributions. Extra hydrogen atoms bound to radical sites quench their magnetic moment and switch the spin of the nanostructure in half-integer amounts. Our work demonstrates the intrinsic π-paramagnetism of graphene nanostructures.
Date: 2019
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:nat:natcom:v:10:y:2019:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-018-08060-6
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-08060-6
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