Carrier-mediated magnetoelectric coupling in functionalized graphene

Area of Science:

• Condensed Matter Physics
• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Coupling magnetic order with electric fields is crucial for advanced electronic applications.
• Electrical control of magnetism is key for low-power spintronics and novel magnetoelectric devices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the magnetoelectric coupling in aryl-radical functionalized multilayer graphene.
• To explore the influence of electric fields on induced magnetism and spin polarization.

Main Methods:

• First-principles simulations incorporating van der Waals dispersion forces.
• Analysis of electric field effects on interlayer charge imbalance and magnetism.

Main Results:

• Magnetism in functionalized graphene is sensitive to electric fields, inducing strong magnetoelectric coupling.
• The magnetoelectric effect intensifies with increasing graphene thickness, comparable to perovskite interfaces.
• Achieved near 100% spin polarization (half-metallicity) at low electric bias, with field polarization controlling spin-channel selection.

Conclusions:

• Aryl-radical functionalized graphene demonstrates significant magnetoelectric properties tunable by electric fields.
• The findings suggest potential for developing next-generation spintronic and low-power magnetoelectric devices.
• Thickness-dependent magnetoelectric coupling and field-controlled half-metallicity are key characteristics of this system.