Spin locking at the apex of nano-scale platinum tips

TL;DR

This study uses density functional theory to demonstrate that apex atoms on platinum nanostructures exhibit robust spin polarization, with magnetization locked at approximately 0.6μB due to electronic structure effects.

Contribution

It reveals the atomistic spin locking phenomenon at platinum apex atoms, providing insights into magnetic properties of nano-scale platinum tips.

Findings

Apex atoms show stable spin polarization around 0.6μB.

Spin polarization is robust despite structural variations.

Electronic structure depletion locks the magnetization.

Abstract

Nanostructures based on platinum, such as small clusters or STM-tips, often exhibit an atomistic structure that relies upon one or very few strongly under-coordinated platinum atoms. Here, we analyze a paradigmatic example, an apex atom on a pyramidal platinum cluster employing the density functional theory. We show that such a pristine platinum tip exhibits a spin polarization of the apex atom with a remarkable robustness. Due to a depletion of the projected density of states at the apex position, the apex-magnetization is efficiently locked to about 0.6$\mu_\text{B}$.