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Title: Emergence of flat-band magnetism and half-metallicity in twisted bilayer graphene

Journal Article · · Physical Review Materials

Evidence of flat-band magnetism and half-metallicity in compressed twisted bilayer graphene is provided with first-principles calculations. In this article, we show that dynamic band-structure engineering in twisted bilayer graphene is possible by controlling the chemical composition with extrinsic doping, the interlayer coupling strength with pressure, and the magnetic ordering with external electric field. By varying the rotational order and reducing the interlayer separation, an unbalanced distribution of charge density results in the spontaneous apparition of localized magnetic moments without disrupting the structural integrity of the bilayer. Weak exchange correlation between magnetic moments is estimated in large unit cells. External electric field switches the local magnetic ordering from ferromagnetic to antiferromagnetic. Substitutional doping shifts the chemical potential of one spin distribution and leads to half-metallicity. Lastly, flakes of compressed twisted bilayer graphene exhibit spontaneous magnetization, demonstrating that correlation between magnetic moments is not a necessary condition for their formation.

Research Organization:
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES) (SC-22)
Grant/Contract Number:
89233218CNA000001
OSTI ID:
1529544
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1518502
Report Number(s):
LA-UR--19-21862
Journal Information:
Physical Review Materials, Journal Name: Physical Review Materials Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 3; ISSN PRMHAR; ISSN 2475-9953
Publisher:
American Physical Society (APS)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Cited By (2)

Electrically Tunable Flat Bands and Magnetism in Twisted Bilayer Graphene text January 2019
Electrically Tunable Flat Bands and Magnetism in Twisted Bilayer Graphene journal August 2019