Single-Atom Magnets on Thermally Stable Adsorption Sites: Dy on NaCl(100)

Physical Review Letters 2026 Open access

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Authors: Marina Pivetta, M. Blanco-Rey, Sébastien Reynaud, Romana Baltic, A. Rary-Zinque, S. Toda Cosi, F. Patthey, B. V. Sorokin, Aparajita Singha, Fabio Donati, Alessandro Barla, Luca Persichetti
+5 more Pietro Gambardella, A. Arnau, F. Delgado, S. Rusponi, Harald Brune
DOI: 10.1103/83sr-hhpz
Cited by: 1
References: 83

Abstract

We report magnetic bistability in single Dy atoms on NaCl(100) thin films. Individual Dy atoms substituting Na at the surface of the NaCl layer are thermally stable up to at least 300 K, display 4f^{9} occupancy, out-of-plane easy magnetization axis, and long spin relaxation time T_{1} of about 10 s at 2.5 K; therefore, they are the first single-atom magnet on a thermally stable adsorption site. Dy atoms adsorbed onto the Cl and bridge sites display 4f^{10} occupancy. Dy on top-Cl exhibit magnetic hysteresis and a T_{1} of 550 s at 0.3 T and 2.5 K. The observed slow magnetic relaxation of Dy on both adsorption sites introduces NaCl as an effective platform for single-atom magnets.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Magnetism in coordination complexes Advanced Chemical Physics Studies Magnetic properties of thin films

Publication details

Journal / source
Physical Review Letters
Publisher
American Physical Society (APS)
Volume
136
Issue
8
Pages
086203–086203
Publication date
11 February 2026
Language
EN