Structures and magnetic properties of Fe clusters on graphene

Abstract

Adsorption of Fe atom and ${\mathrm{Fe}}_{n}$ ($n=2\ensuremath{-}7$) clusters on graphene was studied by first-principles calculation and chemical bonding analysis. Various adsorption configurations, i.e., Fe clusters placed at different lateral positions and with different orientations with respect to the graphene lattice, have been optimized to locate the ground-state geometry of the Fe clusters on graphene. The calculation shows that Fe on graphene prefers a three-dimensional growth mode with a critical size of two atoms. The calculation also shows that ${\mathrm{Fe}}_{n}$ clusters on graphene exhibit ferromagnetic order and large magnetic moment. However, due to charge redistribution caused by the interaction with graphene, some ${\mathrm{Fe}}_{n}$ clusters on graphene have smaller magnetic moments compared to the corresponding free-standing clusters. Adsorption of ${\mathrm{Fe}}_{n}$ clusters also induces magnetic moments in graphene, and the induced magnetic moment on each carbon atom in graphene is correlated with the distortion of the graphene lattice.