Hybridization-induced oscillatory magnetic polarization of C60 orbitals at the C60/Fe(001) interface

We have studied the electronic and magnetic properties of the interface between C60 molecules and a Fe(001) surface. X-ray absorption spectroscopy and x-ray magnetic circular dichroism studies of C60 monolayers on Fe(001) surfaces show that hybridization between the frontier orbitals of C60 and continuum states of Fe leads to a significant magnetic polarization of C60 π∗-derived orbitals. The magnitude and also the sign of this polarization were found to depend markedly on the excitation energy. These observations underline the importance of tailoring the interfacial spin polarization at the Fermi level of ferromagnet/organic semiconductor interfaces for applications in organic spintronics.