K. Ollefs

Advanced spectroscopic synchrotron techniques to unravel the intrinsic properties of dilute magnetic oxides: the case of Co:ZnO

The use of synchrotron-based spectroscopy has revolutionized the way we look at matter. X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) using linear and circular polarized light offers a powerful toolbox of element-specific structural, electronic and magnetic probes that is especially well suited for complex materials containing several elements. We use the specific example of Zn1−xCoxO (Co:ZnO) to demonstrate the usefulness of combining these XAS techniques to unravel its intrinsic properties. We demonstrate that as long as phase separation or excessive defect formation is absent, Co:ZnO is paramagnetic. We can establish quantitative thresholds based on four reliable quality indicators using XAS; samples that show ferromagnet-like behaviour fail to meet these quality indicators, and complementary experimental techniques indeed prove phase separation. Careful analysis of XAS spectra is shown to provide quantitative information on the presence and type of dilute secondary phases in a highly sensitive, non-destructive manner.

Element-Specific Magnetic Hysteresis of Individual 18 nm Fe Nanocubes

Correlating the electronic structure and magnetic response with the morphology and crystal structure of the same single ferromagnetic nanoparticle has been up to now an unresolved challenge. Here, we present measurements of the element-specific electronic structure and magnetic response as a function of magnetic field amplitude and orientation for chemically synthesized single Fe nanocubes with 18 nm edge length. Magnetic states and interactions of monomers, dimers, and trimers are analyzed by X-ray photoemission electron microscopy for different particle arrangements. The element-specific electronic structure can be probed and correlated with the changes of magnetic properties. This approach opens new possibilities for a deeper understanding of the collective response of magnetic nanohybrids in multifunctional materials and in nanomagnetic colloidal suspensions used in biomedical and engineering technologies.

Structural, chemical and magnetic properties of secondary phases in Co-doped ZnO

We have utilized a comprehensive set of experimental techniques such as transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and synchrotron-based x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and the respective x-ray linear dichroism and x-ray magnetic circular dichroism to characterize the correlation of structural, chemical and magnetic properties of Co-doped ZnO samples. It can be established on a quantitative basis that the superparamagnetic (SPM) behavior observed by integral superconducting quantum interference device magnetometry is not an intrinsic property of the material but stems from precipitations of metallic Co. Their presence is revealed by TEM as well as XAS. Annealing procedures for these SPM samples were also studied, and the observed changes in the magnetic properties found to be due to a chemical reduction or oxidation of the metallic Co species.

Spin Hall magnetoresistance in a canted ferrimagnet

We study the spin Hall magnetoresistance effect in ferrimagnet/normal metal bilayers, comparing the response in collinear and canted magnetic phases. In the collinear magnetic phase, in which the sublattice magnetic moments are all aligned along the same axis, we observe the conventional spin Hall magnetoresistance. In contrast, in the canted phase, the magnetoresistance changes sign. Using atomistic spin simulations and x-ray absorption experiments, we can understand these observations in terms of the magnetic field and temperature dependent orientation of magnetic moments on different magnetic sublattices. This enables a magnetotransport based investigation of noncollinear magnetic textures.

Absence of magnetic proximity effects in magnetoresistive Pt/CoFe2O4 hybrid interfaces

Ultrathin Pt films grown on insulating ferrimagnetic

Microwave soft x-ray microscopy for nanoscale magnetization dynamics in the 5–10 GHz frequency range

\mathrm{CoF}{\mathrm{e}}_{2}{\mathrm{O}}_{4}

Magnetic interactions in the Zn-Co-O system: tuning local structure, valence and carrier type from extremely Co doped ZnO to ZnCo2O4.

(111) epitaxial films display a magnetoresistance upon rotating the magnetization of the magnetic layer. We report here x-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) recorded at Pt-

Toward broad-band x-ray detected ferromagnetic resonance in longitudinal geometry

{L}_{2,3}

Structure, valence, and magnetism of Co-doped ZnO at the coalescence limit (invited)

and Pt-

X-ray magnetic circular dichroism measured at the Fe K-edge with a reduced intrinsic broadening: x-ray absorption spectroscopy versus resonant inelastic x-ray scattering measurements

{M}_{3}