Cobalt nanoclusters on metal-supported Xe monolayers: Influence of the substrate on cluster formation kinetics and magnetism

Authors

V. Sessi, Max-Planck-Institut für Festkörperforschung, Heisenbergstrasse 1, 70569 Stuttgart, GermanyFollow
K. Kuhnke, Max-Planck-Institut für Festkörperforschung, Heisenbergstrasse 1, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
J. Zhang, Max-Planck-Institut für Festkörperforschung, Heisenbergstrasse 1, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
Jan Honolka, Max-Planck-Institut für FestkörperforschungFollow
Klaus Kern, Max-Planck-Institut für Festkörperforschung, Heisenbergstrasse 1, 70569 Stuttgart, GermanyFollow
Axel Enders, University of Nebraska at LincolnFollow
P. Bencok, European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, France
S. Bornemann, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
J. Minár, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
Hubert Ebert, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität MünchenFollow

Date of this Version

2010

Comments

Published in PHYSICAL REVIEW B 81, 195403 (2010). Copyright © 2010 The American Physical Society. Used by permission.

Abstract

The growth dynamics of submonolayer coverages of cobalt during buffer-layer assisted growth on Ag(111) and Pt(111) substrates is investigated by variable temperature scanning tunneling microscopy in the temperature range between 80 and 150 K. It is found that attractive cluster-substrate interactions can govern the cluster formation on the Xe buffer layer if the Xe layer is sufficiently thin. The interpretation of the microscopy results is supported by x-ray magnetic circular dichroism data which monitor the effect of cluster-substrate interactions on the formation of magnetic moments and magnetic anisotropy of Co nanocluster during the different stages of growth. Ab initio calculations show that the cluster magnetism is controlled by the interface anisotropy, leading to perpendicular magnetization for Co on Pt(111). Limits of and new potential for nanocluster fabrication by buffer-layer-assisted growth are discussed.