Spin density waves in periodically strained graphene nanoribbons

Nabil M. Al-Aqtash, Renat F. Sabirianov

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

Zigzag graphene nanoribbons (ZGNRs) are antiferromagnetic in the ground state with zero net magnetization due to the compensation of contributions from opposite edges. Uniform deformations (both shear and axial) do not produce magnetization due to symmetry restrictions. However, we report the results of first-principles calculations that predict the induction of spin density waves (SDWs) in ZGNRs under non-uniform periodic strain. Using the density functional theory (DFT) method, we show that a sinusoidal magnetization variation along the axis of the ribbon occurs under a sinusoidal transversal shear strain. SDWs appear due to the presence of a strain gradient that induced asymmetry of magnetization on opposite edges of ZGNRs which do not compensate each other. The amplitude of SDWs is estimated at ∼0.066μB when deformations transverse to the ZGNR axis have a sinusoidal profile with a period of 88.6 Å and an amplitude of 1 Å. Our study suggests that the periodic lattice deformations strongly affect the magnetic structure of ZGNRs in the case of acoustic phonons or mechanical waves.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)4285-4291
Number of pages7
JournalNanoscale
Volume6
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 21 2014

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Materials Science

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Spin density waves in periodically strained graphene nanoribbons'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this