A review has highlighted dramatic progress in research on magnetism in graphene and its derivatives

Graphene, a single two-dimensional sheet of carbon atoms, has captured immense interest from the scientific community since its isolation in 2004. Despite the different noteworthy properties it possesses, a number of applications require graphene to be made magnetic. Therefore, scientists have proposed different ways to achieve it. This dramatic progress achieved in this area has been summarized by RCPTM scientists in a review paper on chemical strategies for imprinting magnetism into graphene and related 2D materials, which has been published in the journal Chemical Society Reviews. The review presents a systematic classification of the methods used for equipping graphene with magnetic properties, evaluation of the effectiveness of various approaches for imprinting magnetism into graphene, and discussion of possible uses of the methods for challenging future applications, especially in spintronics and biomedicine. It also covers emergence of magnetism in graphene analogues and other selected 2D materials. In particular, it addresses transition metal dichalcogenides, metal dihalides, metal dinitrides, MXenes, hexagonal boron nitride, and other relevant 2D compounds/molecules. Finally, the review highlights several challenges that have not yet been addressed, such as: experimental difficulties hindering synthesis of graphene-based systems with controlled introduction of defects; experimental engineering of sizes and edges in spatially confined graphene representatives; combinations of defects of various natures; competition among various types of interactions towards self-sustainable magnetism in graphene and related 2D materials up to room temperature; strengthening the magnetic anisotropy in graphene; and connection of ‘magnetic’ graphenes and other 2D materials to other functional components in devices.

Tuček J., Błoński P., Ugolotti J., Swain A.K., Enoki T., Zbořil R.: Emerging chemical strategies for imprinting magnetism in graphene and related 2D materials for spintronic and biomedical applications, Chemical Society Reviews 2018, 47 (11), 3899–3990.