Tunable Structure and Properties of Co-Evaporated Co–C60 Nanocomposite Films

Magnetic nanoparticles (NPs) hold great promise for both fundamental research and future applications due to their unique structural features, high specific surface area, and tailored physical properties. Here, we present a convenient thermal co-evaporation approach to deposit Co–C60 composite films...

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Main Authors: Ziyang Gu, Yiting Gao, Zhou Li, Weihang Zou, Keming Li, Huan Xu, Zhu Xiao, Mei Fang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Nanomaterials
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/15/10/715
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author Ziyang Gu
Yiting Gao
Zhou Li
Weihang Zou
Keming Li
Huan Xu
Zhu Xiao
Mei Fang
author_facet Ziyang Gu
Yiting Gao
Zhou Li
Weihang Zou
Keming Li
Huan Xu
Zhu Xiao
Mei Fang
author_sort Ziyang Gu
collection DOAJ
description Magnetic nanoparticles (NPs) hold great promise for both fundamental research and future applications due to their unique structural features, high specific surface area, and tailored physical properties. Here, we present a convenient thermal co-evaporation approach to deposit Co–C60 composite films with controlled composition, structure, morphology, and tunable performances, specifically designed for spintronic device applications. By tuning the growth rates of Co and C60 during co-evaporation, the composition of the films can be tuned with different ratios. With a Co/C60 ratio of 5:1, ~300 nm clusters are formed in the films with increased coercivity compared with pure Co films, which is attributed to the interfaces in the composite film. The magnetoresistance (MR), however, becomes dominated by organic semiconductor C60 with ordinary magnetoresistance (OMAR). By increasing the composition of C60 to the ratio of 5:2, the particle diameter decreases while the height increases dramatically, forming magnetic electrodes and, thus, nano-organic spin valves (OSV) in the composite films with giant magnetoresistance (GMR). The work demonstrates a versatile approach to tailoring the structural and functional properties of magnetic NP-composite films for advanced spintronic applications.
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institution OA Journals
issn 2079-4991
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publishDate 2025-05-01
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series Nanomaterials
spelling doaj-art-d4b64bb869294623928cc8dd595e903b2025-08-20T01:56:44ZengMDPI AGNanomaterials2079-49912025-05-01151071510.3390/nano15100715Tunable Structure and Properties of Co-Evaporated Co–C60 Nanocomposite FilmsZiyang Gu0Yiting Gao1Zhou Li2Weihang Zou3Keming Li4Huan Xu5Zhu Xiao6Mei Fang7School of Materials Science and Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, ChinaSchool of Materials Science and Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, ChinaSchool of Materials Science and Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, ChinaHunan Key Laboratory for Super-microstructure and Ultrafast Process, School of Physics, Central South University, Changsha 410083, ChinaHunan Key Laboratory for Super-microstructure and Ultrafast Process, School of Physics, Central South University, Changsha 410083, ChinaHunan Key Laboratory for Super-microstructure and Ultrafast Process, School of Physics, Central South University, Changsha 410083, ChinaSchool of Materials Science and Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, ChinaHunan Key Laboratory for Super-microstructure and Ultrafast Process, School of Physics, Central South University, Changsha 410083, ChinaMagnetic nanoparticles (NPs) hold great promise for both fundamental research and future applications due to their unique structural features, high specific surface area, and tailored physical properties. Here, we present a convenient thermal co-evaporation approach to deposit Co–C60 composite films with controlled composition, structure, morphology, and tunable performances, specifically designed for spintronic device applications. By tuning the growth rates of Co and C60 during co-evaporation, the composition of the films can be tuned with different ratios. With a Co/C60 ratio of 5:1, ~300 nm clusters are formed in the films with increased coercivity compared with pure Co films, which is attributed to the interfaces in the composite film. The magnetoresistance (MR), however, becomes dominated by organic semiconductor C60 with ordinary magnetoresistance (OMAR). By increasing the composition of C60 to the ratio of 5:2, the particle diameter decreases while the height increases dramatically, forming magnetic electrodes and, thus, nano-organic spin valves (OSV) in the composite films with giant magnetoresistance (GMR). The work demonstrates a versatile approach to tailoring the structural and functional properties of magnetic NP-composite films for advanced spintronic applications.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/15/10/715magnetic nanoparticleco-evaporationcomposite filmmagnetoresistance
spellingShingle Ziyang Gu
Yiting Gao
Zhou Li
Weihang Zou
Keming Li
Huan Xu
Zhu Xiao
Mei Fang
Tunable Structure and Properties of Co-Evaporated Co–C60 Nanocomposite Films
Nanomaterials
magnetic nanoparticle
co-evaporation
composite film
magnetoresistance
title Tunable Structure and Properties of Co-Evaporated Co–C60 Nanocomposite Films
title_full Tunable Structure and Properties of Co-Evaporated Co–C60 Nanocomposite Films
title_fullStr Tunable Structure and Properties of Co-Evaporated Co–C60 Nanocomposite Films
title_full_unstemmed Tunable Structure and Properties of Co-Evaporated Co–C60 Nanocomposite Films
title_short Tunable Structure and Properties of Co-Evaporated Co–C60 Nanocomposite Films
title_sort tunable structure and properties of co evaporated co c60 nanocomposite films
topic magnetic nanoparticle
co-evaporation
composite film
magnetoresistance
url https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/15/10/715
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AT weihangzou tunablestructureandpropertiesofcoevaporatedcoc60nanocompositefilms
AT kemingli tunablestructureandpropertiesofcoevaporatedcoc60nanocompositefilms
AT huanxu tunablestructureandpropertiesofcoevaporatedcoc60nanocompositefilms
AT zhuxiao tunablestructureandpropertiesofcoevaporatedcoc60nanocompositefilms
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