Epitaxially Integrating Ferromagnetic Fe(1.3)Ge Nanowire Arrays on Few-Layer Graphene

Abstract

We report vertical growth of ferromagnetic and metallic Fe1.3Ge nanowire (NW) arrays on few-layer graphene in a large area, induced by a relatively good epitaxial lattice match. Integrating well-aligned NW arrays onto graphene would offer a good opportunity to combine superb material properties of graphene with versatile properties of NWs into novel applications. Fe1.3Ge NWs are also synthesized on highly ordered pyrolytic graphite (HOPG). Fe1.3Ge NWs on graphene and HOPG show quite efficient field emission, which are ascribed to the well-interfaced vertical growth, a pointed tip, and high field-enhancement factor (beta) of the NWs. The development of ferromagnetic metal NW-graphene hybrid structures would provide an important possibility to develop graphene-based spintronic, electronic, and optoelectronic devices.