Magnetism in C60 Films Induced by Proton Irradiation

TL;DR

Proton irradiation of C60 films induces ferromagnetic-like behavior at low temperatures, revealing a potential method to modify magnetic properties in fullerene-based materials, with implications for spintronics and magnetic nanostructures.

Contribution

This study demonstrates that proton irradiation can induce ferromagnetic-like behavior in C60 films, a novel approach to controlling magnetism in carbon-based nanomaterials.

Findings

Irradiated films show stronger temperature-dependent magnetization at 5 K.

Pristine films remain diamagnetic at all temperatures.

Ferromagnetic-like signals are observed only at low temperatures.

Abstract

It is shown that polycrystalline fullerene thin films on hydrogen passivated Si(111) substrates irradiated by 2 MeV protons displays ferromagnetic-like behavior at 5 K. At 300 K both the pristine and the irradiated film show diamagnetic behavior. Magnetization data in the temperature range 2 - 300 K, in 1 Tesla applied field, for the irradiated film shows much stronger temperature dependence compared to the pristine film. Possible origin of ferromagnetic-like signals in the irradiated films are discussed.