Giant TMR effect and spin states in fullerene-cobalt hybirid films

Sakai, Seiji; Matsumoto, Yoshihiro; Mitani, Seiji*; Takanashi, Koki; Takagi, Yasumasa*; Nakagawa, Takeshi*; Yokoyama, Toshihiko*; Shimada, Toshihiro*; Naramoto, Hiroshi*; Maeda, Yoshihito

Anomalously large tunnel magnetoresistance (TMR) effects were found for the granular structured C60-Co films consisting of a C60-Co compound matrix and Co nanoparticles dispersed therein. The observed MR ratios of 90% at the maximum are significantly higher than the MR ratios of the inorganic granular films. Our recent X-ray magnetic circular dichroism study revealed that the C60-Co compound in the C60-Co films shows the paramagnetic behaviors due to the spin-polarized states (Co d-spin) derived from the Co 3d orbitals. We found that the T-dependence of the zero-bias MR ratio is represented by considering the similar T-dependence of the spin-polarization(P) of tunneling electrons to the observed T-dependence of the magnetization of the Co d-spin in the C60-Co compound, and by assuming P=100% at low temperature. This result suggests the incorporation of the spin-polarized Co 3d-derived states of the C60-Co compound into the spin-transport process in the granular C60-Co films.