Magnetic and electronic properties of a Pt–Co bilayer on Pt(111)

Atomically thin Co/Pt(1 1 1) interfaces grown at different temperatures are characterized by very different values of perpendicular magnetic anisotropy as a consequence of the local structure and coordination. Here we present a study of the structural, magnetic and electronic properties for interfaces grown in UHV onto clean Pt(1 1 1) in different kinetic conditions. When one monolayer of Co is deposited at 540 K a thermally activated exchange reaction leads to a sharp Pt–Co double interface giving rise to a strong increase of the magneto-optical response with respect to the Co monolayer deposited at room temperature. The results are interpreted in terms of atomic hybridization as detected by valence band photoelectron spectroscopy.