Manipulating magnetism and conductance of an adatom-molecule junction on metal surfaces: ab initio study

TL;DR

This study uses ab initio calculations to show how an STM tip can control the magnetic and conductance properties of a benzene-Co adatom junction on Cu(001), revealing potential for tunable molecular spintronic devices.

Contribution

It demonstrates that an STM tip can manipulate magnetism and conductance in a molecule-adatom junction, including switching magnetic moments and inducing spin-filter effects.

Findings

Magnetic moment of Co adatom can be switched on/off by adjusting tip distance.

A spin-filter effect is predicted in the junction.

Magnetism and conductance are tunable via STM tip positioning.

Abstract

The state of the art ab initio calculations reveal the effect of a scanning tunnelling microscopy tip on magnetic properties and conductance of a benzene-adatom sandwich on Cu(001). We concentrate on a benzene-Co system interacting with a Cr tip. Our studies give a clear evidence that magnetism and conductance in molecule-adatom junctions can be tailored by the STM tip. Varying the tip-substrate distance the magnetic moment of the Co adatom can be switched on/off. The interplay between spin-polarized electron transport through the junction and its magnetic properties is demonstrated. A spin-filter effect in the junction is predicted.