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Nonmagnetic elements turn graphene magnetic

  • Physicists have predicted that
    graphene, a single atomic sheet of carbon, could be turned magnetic simply by
    attaching a hydrogen atom (or removing a carbon atom). However, detecting this
    magnetism has been elusive due to many pitfalls that arise using traditional
    methods.
  • Kawakami has developed a new method
    to detect magnetism in graphene. Pure spin currents are injected into graphene,
    which then depolarize in a particular and recognizable way if magnetic moments
    are present. This experiment provides the clearest evidence to date that
    hydrogen adatoms (or lattice vacancies) generate magnetism in graphene.
  • In addition to its impact on
    fundamental physics of magnetism and quantum mechanics, this work also has
    important ramifications on spin-based electronics for magnetic sensing and
    advanced computers.

Hydrogen on a graphene sheet.

Scattering of spins in graphene by magnetic moment associated with adsorbed hydr