Detecting the spin-polarization of edge states in graphene nanoribbons

TL;DR

This paper introduces a method to detect and characterize the spin-polarization of edge states in graphene nanoribbons by stabilizing their magnetization using a ferromagnetic substrate, enabling energy- and spatial-resolved spin-moment analysis.

Contribution

The study presents a novel approach to measure energy-dependent spin-moments in extended edge states of graphene nanoribbons, surpassing previous localized magnetic moment characterizations.

Findings

Energy-dependent spin-moment distributions were successfully extracted.

The method can be applied to other nanographene structures.

This validation supports their potential in spintronics and quantum technologies.

Abstract

Low dimensional carbon-based materials are interesting because they can show intrinsic $\pi$-magnetism associated to p-electrons residing in specific open-shell configurations. Consequently, during the last years there have been impressive advances in the field combining indirect experimental fingerprints of localized magnetic moments with theoretical models. In spite of that, a characterization of their spatial- and energy-resolved spin-moment has so far remained elusive. To obtain this information, we present an approach based on the stabilization of the magnetization of $\pi$-orbitals by virtue of a supporting substrate with ferromagnetic ground state. Remarkably, we go beyond localized magnetic moments in radical or faulty carbon sites: In our study, energy-dependent spin-moment distributions have been extracted from spatially extended one-dimensional edge states of chiral graphene nanoribbons. This method can be generalized to other nanographene structures, representing an essential validation of these materials for their use in spintronics and quantum technologies.