Engineering of Magnetically Intercalated Silicene Compound: An Overlooked Polymorph of EuSi2. (21st March 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tokmachev, Andrey M.; Averyanov, Dmitry V.; Karateev, Igor A.; Parfenov, Oleg E.; Kondratev, Oleg A.; Taldenkov, Alexander N.; Storchak, Vyacheslav G.
• Is Part Of: Advanced functional materials. Volume 27:Number 18(2017)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2017-03-21
• Subjects: EuSi2 -- magnetism -- molecular beam epitaxy -- silicene -- synthesis; Materials -- Periodicals; Chemical vapor deposition -- Periodicals; 620.11
• DOI: 10.1002/adfm.201606603
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1616-301X

Abstract

Abstract : Silicene, a Si analogue of graphene, is suggested to become a versatile material for nanoelectronics. Being coupled with magnetism, it is predicted to be particularly suitable for spintronic applications. However, experimental realization of free‐standing silicene and its magnetic derivatives is lacking. Fortunately, magnetism can be induced into silicene layers, in particular, by intercalation. Here, a successful synthesis of multilayer silicene intercalated by inherently magnetic Eu ions – a compound expected to exhibit both massless Dirac‐cone states, as its Ca analogue, and a nontrivial magnetic structure – is reported. This new polymorph with EuSi2 stoichiometry is epitaxially stabilized by continual replication of silicene layers employing Sr‐intercalated multilayer silicene as a template. The atomic structure of the new compound and its sharp interface with the template are confirmed using electron diffraction, X‐ray diffraction, and electron microscopy techniques. Below 80 K, the material demonstrates anisotropic antiferromagnetism coexisting with weak ferromagnetism. The magnetic state is accompanied by an anomalous behavior of magnetoresistivity. Abstract : Multilayer silicene intercalated by magnetic Eu ions is synthesized by molecular beam epitaxy on tailor‐made templates. This new polymorph of EuSi2 is the first magnetic silicene‐based compound. The structure is confirmed with reflection high‐energy electron diffraction, X‐ray diffraction, and electron microscopy. The material exhibits anisotropic antiferromagnetism and weak ferromagnetism as well as anomalous behavior of magnetoresistivity.