We demonstrate that the deposition of a self-assembled monolayer of alkanethiolates on a 1 nm thick cobalt ultrathin film grown on Au(111) induces a spin reorientation transition from in-plane to out-of-plane magnetization. Using ab initio calculations, we show that a methanethiolate layer changes slightly both the magnetocrystalline and shape anisotropy, both effects almost cancelling each other out for a 1 nm Co film. Finally, the change in hysteresis cycles upon alkanethiolate adsorption could be assigned to a molecular-induced roughening of the Co layer, as shown by STM. In addition, we calculate how a methanethiolate layer modifies the spin density of states of the Co layer and we show that the spin polarization at the Fermi level through the organic layer is reversed as compared to the uncovered Co. These results give new theoretical and experimental insights for the use of thiol-based self-assembled monolayers in spintronic devices.

Campiglio, P., Breitwieser, R., Repain, V., Guitteny, S., Chacon, C., Bellec, A., et al. (2015). Change of cobalt magnetic anisotropy and spin polarization with alkanethiolates self-assembled monolayers. NEW JOURNAL OF PHYSICS, 17(6), 063022 [10.1088/1367-2630/17/6/063022].

Change of cobalt magnetic anisotropy and spin polarization with alkanethiolates self-assembled monolayers

Campiglio P.
Membro del Collaboration Group
;
Sassella A.;
2015

Abstract

We demonstrate that the deposition of a self-assembled monolayer of alkanethiolates on a 1 nm thick cobalt ultrathin film grown on Au(111) induces a spin reorientation transition from in-plane to out-of-plane magnetization. Using ab initio calculations, we show that a methanethiolate layer changes slightly both the magnetocrystalline and shape anisotropy, both effects almost cancelling each other out for a 1 nm Co film. Finally, the change in hysteresis cycles upon alkanethiolate adsorption could be assigned to a molecular-induced roughening of the Co layer, as shown by STM. In addition, we calculate how a methanethiolate layer modifies the spin density of states of the Co layer and we show that the spin polarization at the Fermi level through the organic layer is reversed as compared to the uncovered Co. These results give new theoretical and experimental insights for the use of thiol-based self-assembled monolayers in spintronic devices.
Articolo in rivista - Articolo scientifico
magnetic anisotropy; scanning tunneling microscopy; self-assembled monolayers
English
2015
17
6
063022
063022
none
Campiglio, P., Breitwieser, R., Repain, V., Guitteny, S., Chacon, C., Bellec, A., et al. (2015). Change of cobalt magnetic anisotropy and spin polarization with alkanethiolates self-assembled monolayers. NEW JOURNAL OF PHYSICS, 17(6), 063022 [10.1088/1367-2630/17/6/063022].
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10281/293761
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