Depth-Dependent Spin Dynamics in Thin Films of TbPc₂ Nanomagnets Explored by Low-Energy Implanted Muons

We present measurements of the magnetic properties of thin film TbPc(2) single-molecule magnets evaporated on a gold substrate and compare them to those in bulk. Zero-field muon spin relaxation measurements were used to determine the molecular spin fluctuation rate of TbPc(2) as a function of temperature. At low temperature, we find that the fluctuations in films are much faster than in bulk and depend strongly on the distance between the molecules and the Au substrate. We measure a molecular spin correlation time that varies between 1.4 μs near the substrate and 6.6 μs far away from it. We attribute this behavior to differences in the packing of the magnetic cores, which change gradually on the scale of ~10-20 nm away from the TbPc(2)/Au interface.