Reversible Spin Polarization at Hybrid Organic-Ferromagnetic Interfaces

We report a first-principles study of magnetic properties of organic-ferromagnetic interfaces between photoswitchable azobenzene molecules and Fe/W(110) surfaces. Our calculations demonstrate that the magnetic properties of the hybrid interface, such as the local magnetic moment and spin polarization, change significantly as the azobenzene molecule switches reversibly between the trans to the cis Fe(110) form. The molecule-surface interaction, which determines the feasibility of isomerization of the azobenzene on the surface, can be altered by chemical modification of the molecule. This study suggests a new pathway to manipulate magnetism and spin polarization at organic-ferromagnetic hybrid interfaces.