Abstract
Searching for single-atom systems with large magnetic anisotropy energies and tunable magnetic states is of vital importance for both fundamental research of magnetism at the atomic scale and realization of future spin-based quantum computation or information storage schemes. Single 5f electron based actinide atoms are potential candidates for inducing large magnetic anisotropy energies (MAEs), yet they have been much less studied as compared with 3d or 4f single-atom systems. Here we present the adsorptive, electronic, and magnetic properties of a single 5f electron based uranium atom on two-monolayer MgO/Ag(001) by combining scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy (STM/STS) and density functional theory. Our results reveal that single U atoms spontaneously adsorb at the hollow sites of the MgO/Ag(001) surface and they can be controllably switched between the hollow and the O-top sites of MgO/Ag(001) via STM atom manipulation. Most importantly, single U atoms at the O-top sites reveal complex tunneling spectral features, including a symmetric dip at the Fermi energy, which is the manifestation of the existence of a relatively large 5f-driven magnetic anisotropy energy, whereas single U atoms at the hollow sites exhibit a two-lobe subatomic structure stemming from the valence electron orbitals of U itself and show no signs related with magnetic anisotropy. This work proves that single 5f electron based U atoms can possess a considerable uniaxial magnetic anisotropy via adsorbing at the appropriate sites on the carefully chosen supporting surface, and their magnetic states can be tuned by atom manipulation techniques.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 245407 |
Journal | Physical Review B |
Volume | 108 |
Issue number | 24 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Dec 15 2023 |
Externally published | Yes |
Funding
This work was supported by the National Science Foundation of China (Grants No. 12122409, No. 11974319, and No. 11904335) and the National Key Research and Development Program of China (Grants No. 2022YFA1402201 and No. 2021YFA1601101).