X-ray absorption and magnetic circular dichroism of graphene/Ni(111)

We present systematic investigations of the electronic and magnetic properties of the graphene/Ni(111) system by means of x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) at the Ni L-2,L-3 and C K absorption edges. The XAS C 1s ->pi*,sigma* spectra show dramatic changes as the angle, alpha, between the electrical vector of light and normal of the sample is varied reflecting the symmetry of the final state (sigma or pi). XMCD spectra reveal an induced magnetic moment of the carbon atoms in the graphene layer. Our experimental results are discussed in the light of previous results on the observation of induced magnetism in nonmagnetic materials. (C) 2010 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3360340]