Epitaxial Stabilization of Ferromagnetism in the Nanophase of FeGe
- University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK) & Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)
- University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK)
- ORNL
Epitaxial nanocrystals of FeGe have been stabilized on Ge(111). The nanocrystals assume a quasi-one-dimensional shape as they grow exclusively along the {l_brace}1{ovr 1}0{r_brace} 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 {approx}200 K with an average magnetic moment of 0.8{mu}{sub B} 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.
- Research Organization:
- Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Science (SC)
- DOE Contract Number:
- DE-AC05-00OR22725
- OSTI ID:
- 1003076
- Journal Information:
- Physical Review Letters, Vol. 96, Issue 12; ISSN 0031--9007
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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