Electron-Spin-Based Phenomena Arising from Pore Edges of Graphene Nanomeshes

Abstract

Unique atomic structures at the edges of graphenes yield a variety of interesting phenomena. In spite of carbon-based material with only sp2 bonds, the zigzag-type atomic structure of graphene edges theoretically produces spontaneous spin polarization of electrons due to mutual Coulomb interaction of extremely high electron density of states localizing at the flat energy band. However, spin-based phenomena have been experimentally observed only in defect-related carbon systems. Here, we fabricate honeycomb-like arrays of low-defect hexagonal nanopores (graphene nanomeshes; GNMs) on graphenes, which produce a large amount of pore edges, by using a nonlithographic method (nanoporous alumina templates). We find large-magnitude ferromagnetism arising from polarized electron spins localizing at the zigzag-nanopore edges of monolayer GNMs. Moreover, spin pumping effect depending on GNM structures is found for magnetic fields applied in parallel with the few-layer GNM planes. These promise to be a realization of rare-element free magnets and also novel all-carbon spintronic devices.