  Graphene is a 2D material that displays excellent electronic transport
properties with prospective applications in many fields. Inducing and
controlling magnetism in the graphene layer, for instance by proximity of
magnetic materials, may enable its utilization in spintronic devices. This
paper presents fabrication and detailed characterization of single-layer
graphene formed on the surface of epitaxial FeRh thin films. The magnetic state
of the FeRh surface can be controlled by temperature, magnetic field or strain
due to interconnected order parameters. Characterization of graphene layers by
X-ray Photoemission and X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy, Low-Energy Ion
Scattering, Scanning Tunneling Microscopy, and Low-Energy Electron Microscopy
shows that graphene is single-layer, polycrystalline and covers more than 97%
of the substrate. Graphene displays several preferential orientations on the
FeRh(001) surface with unit vectors of graphene rotated by 30{\deg}, 15{\deg},
11{\deg}, and 19{\deg} with respect to FeRh substrate unit vectors. In
addition, the graphene layer is capable to protect the films from oxidation
when exposed to air for several months. Therefore, it can be also used as a
protective layer during fabrication of magnetic elements or as an atomically
thin spacer, which enables incorporation of switchable magnetic layers within
stacks of 2D materials in advanced devices.
