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

Highlights: • 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. - Abstract: In this study, Fe and Mn L_2,3-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