Grain boundaries in graphene, localized zero modes and enhanced magnetism

Abstract

We study amorphous grain boundaries in graphene, and demonstrate the existence of stable structures giving rise to a local density of states enhancement both at zero and finite energies. We use a low energy continuum description of arrays of dislocations in graphene, from which we predict the existence of localized zero energy states, and identify stable dislocation cores carrying such zero energy states, arguing that these might be responsible for the enhanced magnetism seen experimentally at graphite grain boundaries. Copyright © 2011 American Scientific Publishers All rights reserved.