Magnetic response of an ultrathin cobalt film in contact with an organic pentacene layer

Phys Rev Lett. 2010 Apr 30;104(17):177204. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.104.177204. Epub 2010 Apr 28.

Abstract

To emulate the interfacial regimes of a Co/Pc/Co spin-valve structure, we fabricated ultrathin pentacene/cobalt (Pc/Co) and cobalt/pentacene (Co/Pc) bilayers. Through measurement of the magneto-optical Kerr effect, we found the Co layer has its magnetic properties depend strongly upon the order of deposition. Further x-ray spectroscopy and microscopy investigation indicated Co/Pc was chemically stable, whereas Pc/Co was reactive and exhibited complex magnetization pattern. The different chemistry and magnetic configurations at interfaces could cause additional complication for spin injection.