Magnetic Properties of Hexagonal Graphene Nanomeshes

Graphene nanomeshes are the nanostructures consisting of graphene flake with a regular pattern of antidots (holes) punched through it, Thanks to the energy gaps opening in electronic spectrum, nanomesh-based transistors offer improved I-on/I-off ratio of the collector current while supporting up to 100 larger driving currents than nanoribbon-based devices. In this paper the electronic and magnetic structure of graphene nanomeshes with hexagonally shaped antidots was studied. It has been found that the internal zigzag edges support magnetic moments and that lowest energy magnetic configuration is antiferromagnetic. The density of states calculated for ground state configuration exhibit the energy gap which can be substantially reduced upon switching (e.g by external magnetic field) to ferromagnetic configuration. Based on this we predict that the structure will exhibit magnetoresistive effect, which makes graphene nanomeshes of this kind relevant for spintronic applications.