order in molecular layers

 

Manuel Gruber1,2*, Fatima Ibrahim1, Samy Boukari1, Hironari Isshiki2, Loïc Joly1, Moritz Peter2,

Michał Studniarek1,3, Victor Da Costa1, Hashim Jabbar1, Vincent Davesne1,2, Ufuk Halisdemir1,

Jinjie Chen2, Jacek Arabski1, Edwige Otero3, Fadi Choueikani3, Kai Chen3, Philippe Ohresser3,

WulfWulfhekel2,4, Fabrice Scheurer1,WolfgangWeber1, Mebarek Alouani1, Eric Beaurepaire1*

and Martin Bowen1*

Molecular semiconductors may exhibit antiferromagnetic correlations

well below room temperature1–3. Although inorganic

antiferromagnetic layers may exchange bias4 single-molecule

magnets5, the reciprocal eect of an antiferromagnetic molecular

layer magnetically pinning an inorganic ferromagnetic

layer through exchange bias has so far not been observed.We

report on the magnetic interplay, extending beyond the interface,

between a cobalt ferromagnetic layer and a paramagnetic

organic manganese phthalocyanine (MnPc) layer. These ferromagnetic/

organic interfaces are called spinterfaces because

spin polarization arises on them6–8. The robust magnetism

of the Co/MnPc spinterface6,9 stabilizes antiferromagnetic

ordering at room temperature within subsequent MnPc monolayers

away from the interface. The inferred magnetic coupling

strength is much larger than that found in similar bulk10,11, thin1

or ultrathin2 systems. In addition, at lower temperature, the

antiferromagnetic MnPc layer induces an exchange bias on the

Co film, which is magnetically pinned. These findings create

new routes towards designing organic spintronic devices.