Magnetic structure of hydrogen-induced defects on graphene

Abstract

Using density-functional-theory (DFT), Hartree-Fock, exact-diagonalization, and numerical-renormalization-group methods, we study the electronic structure of diluted hydrogen atoms chemisorbed on graphene. A comparison between DFT and Hartree-Fock calculations allows us to identify the main characteristics of the magnetic structure of the defect. We use this information to formulate an Anderson-Hubbard model that captures the main physical ingredients of the system while still allowing a rigorous treatment of the electronic correlations. We find that the large hydrogen-carbon hybridization puts the structure of the defect halfway between the one corresponding to an adatom weakly coupled to pristine graphene and that of a carbon vacancy. The impurity´s magnetic moment leaks into the graphene layer where the electronic correlations on the C atoms play an important role in stabilizing the magnetic solution. Finally, we discuss the implications for the Kondo effect.