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Spin-Dependent STM Tunnelling Study of the Patterned Magnetite (111) Surface

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2011

N. Berdunov ,
S. Murphy ,
G. Mariotto  and
I. V. Shvets
N. Berdunov
Affiliation:
SFI Nanoscience Laboratory, Physics Department, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland
S. Murphy
Affiliation:
SFI Nanoscience Laboratory, Physics Department, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland
G. Mariotto
Affiliation:
SFI Nanoscience Laboratory, Physics Department, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland
I. V. Shvets
Affiliation:
SFI Nanoscience Laboratory, Physics Department, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland
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Abstract

Under oxidizing preparation conditions the magnetite (111) surface reconstructs to a highly ordered superlattice. This surface reconstruction represents an oxygen-termination of the magnetite bulk. We employ spin-polarized (SP) STM to study the spin-dependent tunnelling between a magnetite (111) sample and an antiferromagnetic tip through a vacuum barrier. Atomic scale STM images show significant magnetic contrast corresponding to variations in the local surface states induced by oxygen vacancies. The local variations of the tunnelling magnetoresistance around these vacancies correspond to 150%. By employing SP-STM measurements and First principles calculations we could conclude that an oxygen top-layer considerably changes the SP properties of the magnetite surface. We explain the appearance of the superstructure in terms of electron-lattice instability due to the surface strain.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 788: Symposium L – Continuous Nanophase and Nanostructured Materials , 2003 , L2.9
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2004

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References

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