Interface magnetic coupling of Fe-phthalocyanine layers on a ferromagnetic surface

Fe-phthalocyanine (FePc) molecules bonded to metal surfaces form rehybridized interface states involving the Fe central atom reflected in changes of orbital and spin configuration. X-ray absorption spectroscopy and x-ray magnetic circular dichroism show the ferromagnetic coupling of the FePc molecules that are in contact with the Co(001) surface, even at room temperature (300 K), while the overgrown parallel layers of FePc in thicker molecular films are decoupled from the interface. The magnetized interface molecular layer reproduces the magnetic structures of the substrate (domains, patterns).