Paul Kent Publications

Epitaxial stabilization of ferromagnetism in the nanophase of FeGe

Physical Review Letters 96 127201 (2006)

Adobe PDF [1.2MB]

Epitaxial nanocrystals of FeGe have been stabilized on Ge(111). The nanocrystals assume a quasi one-dimensional shape as they grow exclusively along the <1?10> direction of the Ge(111) substrate, culminating in a compressed monoclinic modification of FeGe. Whereas monoclinic FeGe is antiferromagnetic in the bulk, the nanowires are surprisingly strong ferromagnets below 200 K with an average magnetic moment of 0.8 uB per Fe atom. Density functional calculations indicate an unusual stabilization mechanism for the observed ferromagnetism: lattice compression destabilizes the antiferromagnetic Peierls-like ground state observed in the bulk while increased p-d hybridization suppresses the magnetic moments and stabilizes ferromagnetism.

Previous | Next | Index | Home