Nitrogen-induced Local Spin Polarization in Graphene on Cobalt

By means of first principles calculations we demonstrate an effective method to tailor the local spin configuration of graphene on Co(0001) surface through nitrogen doping. Two different site occupancies of the N impurities are discussed with the focus on structural, electronic and magnetic properties. N induces opposite local spin polarization at the two sites through Zener exchange-type hybridization with Co substrate. In addition, the induced spin polarization is energy dependent and controllable by electric field. Consequently this structure can be applied as a spin injection source in graphene based spintronics.