Energy level alignment and interactive spin polarization at organic/ferromagnetic metal interfaces for organic spintronics

Energy level alignment and spin polarization at tetracyanoquinodimethane/Fe and acridine orange base/Fe interfaces are investigated by means of photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD), respectively, to explore their potential application in organic spintronics. Interface dipoles are observed at both hybrid interfaces, and the work function of Fe is increased by 0.7 eV for the tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ) case, while it is decreased by 1.2 eV for the acridine orange base (AOB) case. According to XMCD results, TCNQ molecule has little influence on the spin polarization of Fe surface. In contrast, AOB molecule reduces the interfacial spin polarization of Fe significantly. Induced spin polarization of the two organic molecules at the interfaces is not observed. The results reveal the necessity of investigating the magnetic property changes of both the OSC and the FM during the process of energy level alignment engineering.