Magnetic properties of FexCo1−x nanochains on Pt(1 1 1) surfaces

Abstract

The magnetic properties of FexCo1−x nanochains on Pt(1 1 1) were studied using the first-principles real-space linear muffin-tin orbital-atomic sphere approximation (RS-LMTO-ASA) method within the density functional theory. The relative amounts of Fe and Co atoms in a chosen nanochain were varied and several possible arrangements of the atomic species were taken into account. The results of the exchange interaction demonstrates ferromagnetic coupling for the nanowires. Our calculations of Fe and Co average magnetic moments reveal a large enhancement of both spin and orbital moments compared to Fe–Co films deposited on a Pt(1 1 1) surface. The trend for the orbital moments with respect to stoichiometry differs from all previous higher-dimensional Fe–Co alloys on Pt(1 1 1) studies.