Manipulation of magnetic anisotropy of Fe/graphene by charge injection

We propose that charge injection can be used to tune the magnetic anisotropy of transition metal monolayer adsorbed on graphene substrate. Using relativistic density-functional calculations, we calculate magnetocrystalline anisotropy energy (MAE) of freestanding Fe monolayer and Fe/graphene complex system. We find MAE of Fe atom is drastically changed, from meV/atom in freestanding Fe monolayer to eV/atom in Fe/graphene system. The more interesting finding is, through charge injection, the suppressed MAE of Fe atoms in Fe/graphene system can be restored back, which provides an effective approach to control MAE. We expect such strategy would be beneficial to graphene based spintronic devices.