A ferromagnetic Eu–Pt surface compound grown below hexagonal boron nitride

Abstract

One of the fundamental applications for monolayer-thick 2D materials is their use as protective layers of metal surfaces and in situ intercalated reactive materials in ambient conditions. Here we investigate the structural, electronic, and magnetic properties, as well as the chemical stability in air of a very reactive metal, Europium, after intercalation between a hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) layer and a Pt substrate. We demonstrate that Eu intercalation leads to a hBN-covered ferromagnetic EuPt₂ surface alloy with divalent Eu²⁺ atoms at the interface. We expose the system to ambient conditions and find a partial conservation of the di-valent signal and hence the Eu–Pt interface. The use of a curved Pt substrate allows us to explore the changes in the Eu valence state and the ambient pressure protection at different substrate planes. The interfacial EuPt₂ surface alloy formation remains the same, but the resistance of the protecting hBN layer to ambient conditions is reduced, likely due to a rougher surface and a more discontinuous hBN coating.