High tunnel magnetoresistance in spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscopy of Co nanoparticles on Pt(111)

We employ variable-temperature spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscopy in constant current mode to read the magnetic state of monodomain cobalt nanoparticles on Pt(111). In order to avoid stray fields we use in situ prepared antiferromagnetically (Cr) coated W tips. The contrast in apparent height between nanoparticles with opposite magnetization is typically Delta z=0.20 +/- 0.05 A, but can reach up to 1.1 A, indicating 80% spin-polarization of the nanoparticles and 850% magnetoresistance of the tip-sample tunnel junction with tip and sample at 300 K and 160 K, respectively. There is no zero-bias anomaly. These results suggest state-selective tunneling which is expected to lead to very high magnetoresistance values. (C) 2005 American Institute of Physics.