On the interface magnetism of thin oxidized Co films: orbital and spin moments

Interface mixing and its impact on exchange coupling in exchange biased systems

Exchange bias and interlayer exchange coupling are interface driven phenomena. Since an ideal interface is very challenging to achieve, a clear understanding of the chemical and magnetic natures of interfaces is pivotal to identify their influence on the magnetism. We have chosen Ni₈₀Fe₂₀/CoO(t _CoO)/Co trilayers as a model system, and identified non-stoichiometric Ni-ferrite and Co-ferrite at the surface and interface, respectively. These ferrites, being ferrimagnets typically, should influence the exchange coupling. However, in our trilayers the interface ferrites were found not to be ferro- or ferri-magnetic; thus having no observable influence on the exchange coupling. Our analysis also revealed that (i) interlayer exchange coupling was present between Ni₈₀Fe₂₀ and Co even though the interlayer thickness was significantly larger than expected for this phenomenon to happen, and (ii) the majority of the CoO layer (except some portion near the interface) did not contribute to the observed exchange bias. We also identified that the interlayer exchange coupling and the exchange bias properties were not interdependent.

Strong magnetic enhancement in self-assembled multiferroic-ferrimagnetic nanostructures

In the past decade, self-assembled vertical nano-heterostructures have drawn considerable attention because a high interface-to-volume ratio can be used to tailor or create functionalities. We have systematically investigated the magnetic properties of oxide heterostructures consisting of the CoFe2O4 nanopillars embedded in the BiFeO3 matrix using macroscopic magnetization measurements and element-selective soft X-ray absorption magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) at the Co- and Fe-L2,3 edge. The magnetization and XMCD data show that the total ordered magnetic moment of Co(2+) in CoFe2O4-BiFeO3 nano-heterostructures is strongly enhanced. This study clearly indicates that the high interface-to-volume ratio vertical nanostructure creates a strong ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic magnetic coupling via an interface. Furthermore, the magnetic coupling can be tuned in the multiferroic-ferrimagnetic self-assembled heterostructures by controlling the spacing between nanopillars.

Increased surface spin stability in γ-Fe2O3 nanoparticles with a Cu shell

γ-Fe(2)O(3) nanoparticles were coated with a Cu shell in situ during synthesis. An interfacial monolayer of CuO in the Cu-coated γ-Fe(2)O(3) nanoparticles was discovered that stabilized the disordered surface spins of γ-Fe(2)O(3) nanoparticles. Element-specific x-ray absorption spectroscopy at the L-edges for Cu and Fe indicated the magnetic moment of the Cu in the shell interacted with the γ-Fe(2)O(3) nanoparticle's surface magnetic moments. This exchange interaction between the Fe and Cu at the interface permitted an overall Cu moment in CuO (an antiferromagnet typically) that altered the γ-Fe(2)O(3) nanomagnetism. Increasing the Cu shell thickness also increased the total Fe magnetism of the nanoparticles.