Large hysteretic magnetoresistance of silicide nanostructures

We demonstrate a large (as much as 100%) and strongly hysteretic magnetoresistance (MR) in nominally nonferromagnetic silicide films and nanowires. This unusual MR is quenched above a few kelvins, where conventional behavior due to weak antilocalization is recovered. The dynamic characteristics of this effect are suggestive of weakly interacting, localized paramagnetic moments that form at the surface oxide of the silicide nanostructures, with dramatic consequences for transport when the system size is reduced to the nanoscale.