Spin- and energy-dependent tunneling through a single molecule with intramolecular spatial resolution

We investigate the spin- and energy dependent tunneling through a single organic molecule (CoPc) adsorbed on a ferromagnetic Fe thin film, spatially resolved by low-temperature spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscopy. Interestingly, the metal ion as well as the organic ligand show a significant spin-dependence of tunneling current flow. State-of-the-art ab initio calculations including also van-der-Waals interactions reveal a strong hybridization of molecular orbitals and surface 3d states. The molecule is anionic due to a transfer of one electron, resulting in a non-magnetic (S= 0) state. Nevertheless, tunneling through the molecule exhibits a pronounced spin-dependence due to spin-split molecule-surface hybrid states.