The Spontaneous Generation of Magnetic Moment of Beryllium Dimer on Graphene

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates theoretically that adsorbing beryllium dimer on graphene induces a significant magnetic moment due to electron transfer, with potential implications for magnetic graphene applications.

Contribution

It reveals the spontaneous generation of magnetic moments in graphene through beryllium dimer adsorption, a novel approach for magnetic property induction.

Findings

Magnetic moment of 1 μB generated on graphene

Adsorption energy of 1.04 eV indicating stability

Electron transfer from dimer to graphene causes magnetism

Abstract

Graphene has various potential applications in electronics and scientists are seeking to introduce magnetic properties on graphene. Here we report our theoretical findings that a local magnetic moment as large as 1 $\mu_B$ can be generated from the adsorption of the diamagnetic beryllium dimer on perfect diamagnetic graphene. Unexpectedly the adsorption system is remarkably stable as evidenced by the binding energy of 1.04 eV, indicating that the formation of beryllium dimer is energetically much favorable. Analyses reveal that the magnetic moment and stability is originated from the spontaneous transfer of one electron from the anti-bonding orbital of the dimer to graphene.