Magnetic characterization of the TbAu2 surface alloy

We aim at studying the magnetic properties of the rare-earth surface alloy TbAu2. Beside the fundamental interest for determining the so far unexplored magnetic properties of TbAu2, this surface layer is expected to profoundly impact research related to on-surface synthesized magnetic graphene nanostructures since Tb intercalation allows to create a magnetic surface layer after growing nanostructures on Au(111), which is by far the preferred growth substrate for on-surface synthesis. The planned experiments will allow determining the direction of the easy magnetization axis as well as Curie temperature of the surface allow and hence deliver the basis for understanding the interaction of magnetic nanographenes with the TbAu2 surface alloy.