Spin-Polarized Semiconductor Induced by Magnetic Impurities in Graphene

Abstract

Magnetic impurities adsorbed on graphene are coupled magnetically via the itinerant electrons. This interaction opens a gap in the band structure of graphene. The result strongly depends on how the magnetic impurities are distributed. While random doping produces a semiconductor, if all or most impurities are located in the same sublattice, the spin degeneracy is removed and a spin-polarized semiconductor arises.