Graphene vacancies can act as tiny magnets

Researchers from the University of Maryland (UMD) discovered that missing atoms in Graphene (called vacancies) act as tiny magnets (they have a magnetic moment) - and interact strongly with the electrons in graphene which carry electrical currents, giving rise to a significant extra electrical resistance at low temperature, known as the Kondo effect.

Graphene vacancies image

The researchers say that if you arrange the vacancies in the right order, you could get ferromagnetism. This could lead the way to nanoscale sensors of magnetic fields and could be useful in spintronics, too.

Posted: Apr 14,2011 by Ron Mertens