Monovacancy-induced magnetism in graphene bilayers

Vacancy-induced magnetism in graphene bilayers is investigated using spin-polarized density functional theory calculations. One of two graphene layers has a monovacancy. Two atomic configurations for bilayers are considered with respect to the position of the monovacancy. We find that spin magnetic moments localized at the vacancy site decrease by similar to 10% for our two configurations, compared with the graphene monolayer with a monovacancy. The reduction of the spin magnetic moment in the graphene bilayers is attributed to the interlayer charge transfer from the adjacent layer to the layer with the monovacancy, compensating for spin magnetic moments originating from quasilocalized defect states.