Spin-orbit coupling prevents spin channel suppression of transition metal atoms on armchair graphene nanoribbons

We investigate the spin-dependent electronic and transport properties of armchair graphene nanoribbons including spin-orbit coupling due to the presence of nickel and iridium adatoms by using ab initio calculations within the spin-polarized density functional theory and non-equilibrium Green's function formalism. Our results indicate that the intensity of the spin-flip precession is a direct consequence of the relaxed adsorption sites of the adatoms. We point out that d orbitals of Ni and Ir result in strong dependence on the spin-conserved and spin-flip transmission probabilities. In particular, we show that the presence of spin-orbit coupling can lead to an enhancement of the transmission probabilities especially around resonances arising due to weak coupling with specific orbitals.

Strain and Bond Length Dynamics upon Growth and Transfer of Graphene by NEXAFS Spectroscopy from First-Principles and Experiment

As the quest toward novel materials proceeds, improved characterization technologies are needed. In particular, the atomic thickness in graphene and other 2D materials renders some conventional technologies obsolete. Characterization technologies at wafer level are needed with enough sensitivity to detect strain in order to inform fabrication. In this work, NEXAFS spectroscopy was combined with simulations to predict lattice parameters of graphene grown on copper and further transferred to a variety of substrates. The strains associated with the predicted lattice parameters are in agreement with experimental findings. The approach presented here holds promise to effectively measure strain in graphene and other 2D systems at wafer levels to inform manufacturing environments.