Direct determination of interfacial magnetic moments with a magnetic phase transition in Co nanoclusters on Au(111).

The spin, in-plane and out-of-plane orbital and magnetic dipole moments of almost purely interfacial Co atoms were directly determined for Au/2-monolayer Co nanoclusters/Au(111) by angle-dependent magnetic circular x-ray dichroism (MCXD) measurements. The field- and temperature-dependent MCXD evidences a ferromagnetic(FM)-to-superparamagnetic phase transition in single-domain clusters with decreasing size. The interfacial moments are remarkably enhanced as compared with bulk values, verifying theoretical predictions. The FM clusters show strong perpendicular magnetic anisotropy, providing promise of applications for nanoscale magnetic bits.