The framework of my research has been the theoretical study of the structural, electronic, and magnetic properties of nanometric systems. In this presentation I will give a general overview of my research up to date, focusing on two representative examples: Cr systems on Fe surfaces, and Si clusters doped with transition metals. Fe-Cr systems present a very rich magnetic behavior, and they constitute an excellent playground to study different magnetic phenomena in the nanoscale. In particular, in the last few years I have studied the properties of Cr clusters and monolayers when deposited on different Fe surfaces, exploring the effect of magnetic frustration and how it may lead to the appearance of non-collinear alignments of the local magnetic moments. In the second example I will talk about doped Si clusters. These entities are promising candidates to constitute building blocks which could self-assemble to form silicon-based magnetic semiconductors. I have studied the structural, electronic and magnetic properties of some of these clusters, identifying stable motifs and exploring how their properties change when they are assembled or deposited on a surface. To conclude, I will address my future research plans, briefly explaining possible research lines and areas of interest.
Virginia Commonwealth University, USA