Direct spectroscopic identification of the magnetic structure of the interface of Mn3O4/Fe3O4 superlattices

• Electronic structure of interfacial layer of superlattices is studied with XAS.
• Magnetic property of interface in superlattices is studied by XMCD.
• Antiparallel coupling between two ferrimagnetic layers is characterized.
• MnFe2O4-like interface formed in Fe3O4/Mn3O4 superlattices is identified.
• Interfacial layer critically affects the magnetic properties of the superlattices.

In this study, Fe and Mn L2,3-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) are performed on a series of Mn3O4/Fe3O4 superlattices with various layer thicknesses to investigate the effect of the interface on the magnetic properties of the superlattices. XAS and XMCD spectral analyses indicate the presence of antiparallel interlayer magnetic coupling between the layers of Fe3O4 and Mn3O4, which are both ferrimagnetic, in the Mn3O4/Fe3O4 superlattices. Results suggest that interlayer magnetic coupling between the Mn3O4 and Fe3O4 layers in the superlattice is affected by the magnetic property of the interface region. The magnetic response of the superlattices is dominated by Fe3O4 at high Fe3O4 layer thicknesses and by the interface as the thickness declines. Findings reveal the formation of an interface that is likely composed of MnFe2O4. The interface critically influences the magnetic properties of the Mn3O4/Fe3O4 superlattices.