Effect of Fullerene on domain size and relaxation in a perpendicularly magnetized Pt/Co/C60/Pt system

TL;DR

This study investigates how fullerene (C60) influences magnetic domain size, relaxation dynamics, and anisotropy in a Pt/Co/C60/Pt heterostructure, revealing faster switching and increased anisotropy due to spinterface formation.

Contribution

It provides experimental and theoretical insights into the effects of C60 on magnetic properties and domain behavior in organic/ferromagnetic heterostructures.

Findings

C60 increases magnetic anisotropy in the heterostructure.

Domain size decreases with C60 incorporation.

Switching time is nearly doubled in the presence of C60.

Abstract

Buckminsterfullerene (C60) can exhibit ferromagnetism at the interface (called as a spinterface) when it is placed next to a ferromagnet (FM). Formation of such spinterface happens due to orbital hybridization and spin polarized charge transfer at the interface. The spinterface can influence the domain size and dynamics of the organic/ferromagnetic heterostructure. Here, we have performed magnetic domain imaging and studied the relaxation dynamics in Pt/Co/C60/Pt system with perpendicular anisotropy. We have compared the results with its parent Pt/Co/Pt system. It is observed that presence of C60 in the Pt/Co/Pt system increases the anisotropy and a decrease in the bubble domain size. Further the switching time of Pt/Co/C60/Pt system is almost two times faster than Pt/Co/Pt system. We have also performed the spin polarized density functional theory (DFT) calculations to understand the underneath mechanism. DFT results show formation of a spin polarized spinterface which leads to an enhancement in anisotropy.