Manipulation of electrical properties of graphene by Fe3O4 nanoparticles

Half metal magnetite (Fe₃O₄) is a widely studied material as it presents unique properties such as theoretically 100 % spin polarization at the Fermi level, metal to insulator transition (Verwey transition) at 120 K, ferrimagnetic nature with 858 K Curie temperature, and multiferroicity at low temperatures, all of these crucial issues for both material science and engineering[1]. Graphene, a single atomic layer of graphitic carbon, is a very promising spin channel material owing to the achievement of room-temperature spin transport with long spin diffusion lengths of several micrometers[2]. Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles and graphene heterostructures are very interesting in novel electrical and magnetotransport properties. However, most studies focus on enhancing Lithium storage rate[3]. The effect of electrical and transport properties of graphene by attachment/decoration of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles has yet remained unknown.