Magnetism and Interface Physics

Recent Publications

Maximum magnetic anisotropy of a transition-metal atom

Science 344, 988 (2014).

Spin tuning of electron-doped metal-phthalocyanines

J. Am. Chem. Soc. 136, 5451 (2014).

Spin-dependent electron scattering at graphene edges

Phys. Rev. Lett. 112, 06682 (2014).

Spin-orbit torque switching of a  perpendicular MTJ

Appl. Phys. Lett. 104, 042406 (2014).

Magnetism of Individual Cobalt Atoms on Graphene

Phys. Rev. Lett. 2013

Spin–orbit torques in ferromagnetic heterostructures

Nature Nanotech. 2013

Site- and orbital-dependent charge and spin doping in molecular complexes

Nature Materials 2013

Welcome to the website of the Laboratory for Magnetism and Interface Physics, part of the Department of Materials at the ETH Zurich. 

Research profile

We investigate magnetic phenomena in materials with tailored structural and electronic properties. We focus on interface systems spanning the range from single atoms and molecules on surfaces to multilayer films where the microscopic interplay of structure, size, and electronic effects determines the emergence of magnetic and transport properties that have no counterpart in bulk magnets. Specific areas of research include:

• Magnetic multilayers for spintronic devices
  
• Magnetic impurities as model quantum systems
  
• Molecular magnets for hybrid materials
  

Our experiments aim at finding efficient ways to control the magnetization in these systems, either by tuning material parameters such as the composition, thickness, and lateral size, or by external means such as electric currents and fields. Related technology issues include the development of integrated spintronic devices, storage media, and nanoscale magnets.

In addition to these topics, we investigate the way in which thin films grow, e.g., by molecular beam epitaxy, as well as the surface-directed self-assembly of nanostructures and metal-organic networks. Our experimental tools include magneto-transport and magneto-optic probes, scanning tunneling microscopy, and polarized x-ray absorption spectroscopy.