Magnetic decoupling of ferromagnetic metals through a graphene spacer

TL;DR

This study demonstrates that a graphene layer can effectively magnetically decouple different ferromagnetic metals, acting as a covalent spacer, with implications for spintronic device design.

Contribution

We show that graphene can serve as a magnetic decoupling layer between ferromagnetic metals, a novel application of graphene in magnetic heterostructures.

Findings

Graphene decouples the magnetic interactions between ferromagnetic metals.

Magnetization measurements confirm the magnetic decoupling effect.

The decoupling persists at room temperature.

Abstract

We study the magnetic coupling between different ferromagnetic metals (FMs) across a graphene (G) layer, and the role of graphene as a thin covalent spacer. Starting with G grown on a FM substrate (Ni or Co), we deposit on top at room temperature different FM metals (Fe, Ni, Co). By measuring the dichroic effect of 3p photoemission lines we detect the magnetization of the substrate and the sign of the exchange coupling in FM overlayer at room temperature. We show that the G layer magnetically decouples the FM metals.