Magnetic properties of Co nanoparticle granular films capped with Pt

Magnetization and susceptibility measurements have been performed on Co granular (Al2O3/Co/Pt)(25) multilayers. A cusp-like anomaly is present in the susceptibility, which together with magnetization measurements suggests that the samples behave as an amorphous Correlated-Super-Spin system. The presence of CoPt partial alloying is proven by the XANES spectra. The XMCD spectra show that the interfacial Pt atoms become magnetically polarized by hybridization of the Pt 5d and Co 3d electrons, and are ferromagnetically coupled to the Co particle moments. The Pt layer is effective in transmitting interparticle exchange coupling. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.