Publication Type
Journal
Journal Name
Physical Review Letters
Publication Date
Page Number
127201
Volume
96
Issue
12
Abstract
Epitaxial nanocrystals of FeGe have been stabilized on Ge(111). The nanocrystals assume a quasi-one-dimensional shape as they grow exclusively along the (110) direction of the Ge(111) substrate, culminating in a compressed monoclinic modification of FeGe. Whereas monoclinic FeGe is antiferromagnetic in the bulk, the nanowires are surprisingly strong ferromagnets below ~200 K with an average magnetic moment of 0.8?? per Fe atom. Density functional calculations indicate an unusual stabilization mechanism for the observed in the bulk while increased p-d hybridization suppresses the magnetic moments and stabilizes ferromagnetism.