Abstract
Magnetic zigzag edges of graphene are considered as a basis for novel spintronics devices despite the fact that no true long-range magnetic order is possible in one dimension. We study the transverse and longitudinal fluctuations of magnetic moments at zigzag edges of graphene from first principles. We find a high value for the spin wave stiffness and a spin-collinear domain wall creation energy accompanied by low magnetic anisotropy. Above the crossover temperature , the spin correlation length limits the long-range magnetic order to at 300 K while below , it grows exponentially with decreasing temperature. We discuss possible ways of increasing the range of magnetic order and effects of edge roughness on it.
- Received 1 November 2007
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.100.047209
©2008 American Physical Society