Typically, in nanoscale spintronics the structure of miniaturized and low-dimensional systems is designed to achieve magnetic functionality. Here, we present an opposite approach, where we use magnetic field to affect the structure of a nanoscale system. Specifically, we find that the interatomic distance in platinum atomic wires decreases or increases by up to ~20%, when a magnetic field is applied parallel or perpendicular to the wires during their formation, respectively. The magnetic field direction also affects the wire length, where longer (shorter) wires are formed under a parallel (perpendicular) field. Non-collinear spin density-functional-theory calculations combined with a minimal model based on Zeeman energy splitting reproduce the main experimental observations and indicate that the direction of applied magnetic field promotes the formation of atomic wires with a specific magnetization orientation associated with a characteristic interatomic distance and stability. Our findings demonstrate that fundamental structural properties of nanomaterials can be controlled by magnetic fields.

Magnetic control over the fundamental structure of atomic wires

ACS Spring Meeting 2021

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