Magnetism at the interface of non-magnetic Cu and C$_{60}$

TL;DR

This study demonstrates room temperature ferromagnetism at the Cu/C60 interface and quantifies the induced magnetic moment in copper using XMCD measurements, revealing magnetic properties in a non-magnetic heterostructure.

Contribution

The paper provides the first quantification of the interfacial magnetic moment in Cu induced by C60, using XMCD measurements to confirm ferromagnetism at room temperature.

Findings

Room temperature ferromagnetism observed in Cu/C60 multilayers.

Induced magnetic moment of approximately 0.01 μB per atom in Cu at the interface.

XMCD measurements confirm the magnetic nature of the interface.

Abstract

The signature of magnetism without a ferromagnet in a non-magnetic heterostructure is novel as well as fascinating from fundamental research point of view. It has been shown by Al'Mari et al: that magnetism can be induced at the interface of Cu/C60 due to change in density of states. However, the quantification of such interfacial magnetic moment has not been performed yet. In order to quantify the induced magnetic moment in Cu, we have performed X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) measurements on Cu/C$_{60}$ multilayers. We have observed room temperature ferromagnetism in Cu/C$_{60}$ stack. Further XMCD measurements show that ~0.01 $\mu_B$/atom magnetic moment has been induced in Cu at the Cu/C$_{60}$ interface.