Strain-induced effects in the electronic and spin properties of a monolayer of ferromagnetic GdAg2

A. Correa, B. Xu, M. J. Verstraete, L. Vitali*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

We report on the structural, electronic and magnetic properties of a monolayer of GdAg2, forming a moiré pattern on Ag(111). Combining scanning tunneling microscopy and ab initio spin-polarized calculations, we show that the electronic band structure can be shifted linearly via thermal controlled strain of the intra-layer atomic distance in the range of 1-7%, leading to lateral hetero-structuring. Furthermore, the coupling of the incommensurable GdAg2 alloy layer to the Ag(111) substrate leads to spatially varying atomic relaxation causing subsurface layer buckling, texturing of the electronic and spin properties, and inhomogeneity of the magnetic anisotropy energy across the layer. These results provide perspectives for control of electronic properties and magnetic ordering in atomically-thin layers.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)19148-19153
Number of pages6
JournalNanoscale
Volume8
Issue number45
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 7 Dec 2016
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© The Royal Society of Chemistry.

Funding

FundersFunder number
Seventh Framework Programme312763, 283493

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