The magnetization orientation of Fe ultrathin layers in contact with graphene.

ABSTRACT

In this paper, we study the magnetic and chemical properties of Fe/graphene vertically stacked ultrathin films by means of X-ray magnetic circular dichroism and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. We compare two systems an iron layer deposited directly on top of the Pt(111) surface, and an intercalated Fe film sandwiched between graphene and Pt(111). The system composed of a submonolayer Fe deposited directly on Pt(111) maintains an out-of-plane easy magnetization axis, even if it has been covered by graphene that quenches effectively the magnetic orbital moment of Fe. However, when the Fe coverage is increased above 1 ML the easy magnetization axis flips in the in-plane direction.