Electronic structure and magnetic properties of the graphene/Fe/Ni(111) intercalation-like system

TL;DR

This study investigates how intercalating a thin iron layer beneath graphene on Ni(111) alters its electronic and magnetic properties, revealing the formation of a highly spin-polarized quantum-well state that significantly impacts magnetic response.

Contribution

It demonstrates the effects of Fe intercalation on graphene's electronic structure and magnetic properties using combined DFT calculations and electron-spectroscopy.

Findings

Iron intercalation drastically changes magnetic response.

Formation of a highly spin-polarized $3d_{z^2}$ quantum-well state.

Intercalation verified by photoelectron spectroscopy.

Abstract

The electronic structure and magnetic properties of the graphene/Fe/Ni(111) system were investigated via combination of the density functional theory calculations and electron-spectroscopy methods. This system was prepared via intercalation of thin Fe layer (1 ML) underneath graphene on Ni(111) and its inert properties were verified by means of photoelectron spectroscopy. Intercalation of iron in the space between graphene and Ni(111) changes drastically the magnetic response from the graphene layer that is explained by the formation of the highly spin-polarized $3d_{z^2}$ quantum-well state in the thin iron layer.