Spin-orbit torque(SOT)has been considered as one of the promising technologies for the next-generation magnetic random access memory(MRAM).So far,SOT has been widely utilized for inducing various modes of magnetizatio...Spin-orbit torque(SOT)has been considered as one of the promising technologies for the next-generation magnetic random access memory(MRAM).So far,SOT has been widely utilized for inducing various modes of magnetization switching.However,it is a challenge that so many multiple modes of magnetization switching are integrated together.Here we propose a method of implementing both unipolar switching and bipolar switching of the perpendicular magnetization within a single SOT device.The mode of switching can be easily changed by tuning the amplitude of the applied current.We show that the field-like torque plays an important role in switching process.The field-like torque induces the precession of the magnetization in the case of unipolar switching,however,the field-like torque helps to generate an effective zcomponent torque in the case of bipolar switching.In addition,the influence of key parameters on the mode of switching is discussed,including the field-like torque strength,the bias field,and the current density.Our proposal can be used to design novel reconfigurable logic circuits in the near future.展开更多
The realization of perpendicular magnetization and perpendicular exchange bias(PEB)in magnetic multilayers is important for the spintronic applications.NiO(t)/[Ni(4 nm)/Pt(1 nm)]_(2)multilayers with varying the NiO la...The realization of perpendicular magnetization and perpendicular exchange bias(PEB)in magnetic multilayers is important for the spintronic applications.NiO(t)/[Ni(4 nm)/Pt(1 nm)]_(2)multilayers with varying the NiO layer thickness t have been epitaxially deposited on SrTiO;(001)substrates.Perpendicular magnetization can be achieved when t<25 nm.Perpendicular magnetization originates from strong perpendicular magnetic anisotropy(PMA),mainly resulting from interfacial strain induced by the lattice mismatch between the Ni and Pt layers.The PMA energy constant decreases monotonically with increasing t,due to the weakening of Ni(001)orientation and a little degradation of the Ni–Pt interface.Furthermore,significant PEB can be observed though NiO layer has spin compensated(001)crystalline plane.The PEB field increases monotonically with increasing t,which is considered to result from the thickness dependent anisotropy of the NiO layer.展开更多
Thanks to the strong perpendicular magnetic anisotropy(PMA), excellent processing compatibility as well as novel spintronic phenomenon, Co/Pt multilayers have been attracting massive attention and widely used in magne...Thanks to the strong perpendicular magnetic anisotropy(PMA), excellent processing compatibility as well as novel spintronic phenomenon, Co/Pt multilayers have been attracting massive attention and widely used in magnetic storage.However, reversed magnetic domains come into being with the increasing layer repetition ‘N’ to reduce magneto-static energy, resulting in the remarkable diminishment of the remanent magnetization(Mr). As a result, the product of Mrand thickness(i.e., the remanent moment-thickness product, Mrt), a key parameter in magnetic recording for reliable data storing and reading, also decreases dramatically. To overcome this issue, we deposit an ultra-thick granular [Co/Pt]80multilayer with a total thickness of 68 nm on granular SiNxbuffer layer. The Mrt value, Mrto saturation magnetization(Ms) ratio as well as out of plane(OOP) coercivity(Hcoop) are high up to 2.97 memu/cm^(2), 67%, and 1940 Oe(1 Oe = 79.5775 A·m^(-1)),respectively, which is remarkably improved compared with that of continuous [Co/Pt]80multilayers. That is because large amounts of grain boundaries in the granular multilayers can efficiently impede the propagation and expansion of reversed magnetic domains, which is verified by experimental investigations and micromagnetic simulation results. The simulation results also indicate that the value of Mrt, Mr/Msratio, and Hcoopcan be further improved through optimizing the granule size, which can be experimentally realized by manipulating the process parameter of SiNxbuffer layer. This work provides an alternative solution for achieving high Mrt value in ultra-thick Co/Pt multilayers, which is of unneglectable potential in applications of high-density magnetic recording.展开更多
The development of magnetic heterostructures with strong perpendicular magnetic anisotropy(PMA),strong spin-orbit torques(SOTs),low impedance,and good integration compatibility at the same time is central for high-per...The development of magnetic heterostructures with strong perpendicular magnetic anisotropy(PMA),strong spin-orbit torques(SOTs),low impedance,and good integration compatibility at the same time is central for high-performance spintronic memory and computing applications.Here,we report the development of the PMA superlattice[Pt/Co/W]_(n)that can be sputtered-deposited on commercial oxidized silicon substrates and has giant SOTs,strong uniaxial PMA of≈9.2 Merg/cm^(3),and rigid macrospin performance.The damping-like and field-like SOTs of the[Pt/Co/W]_(n)superlattices exhibit a linear increase with the repeat number n and reach the giant values of 225%and-33%(two orders of magnitude greater than that in clean-limit Pt)at n=12,respectively.The damping-like SOT is also of the opposite sign and much greater in magnitude than the field-like SOT,regardless of the number n.These results clarify that the spin current that generates SOTs in the[Pt/Co/W]_(n)superlattices arises predominantly from the spin Hall effect rather than bulk Rashba spin splitting,providing a unified understanding of the SOTs in these superlattices.We also demonstrate deterministic switching in thickerthan-50-nm PMA[Pt/Co/W]_(12)superlattices at a low current density.This work establishes the[Pt/Co/W]_(n)superlattice as a compelling material candidate for ultra-fast,low-power,long-retention nonvolatile spintronic memory and computing technologies.展开更多
Pd/Co_(2)MnSi(CMS)/Co/Pd multilayer films were designed based on the idea of combining highly spin-polarized materials with strong perpendicular magnetic anisotropy(PMA)films.The PMA of Pd/CMS/Co/Pd multilayer films w...Pd/Co_(2)MnSi(CMS)/Co/Pd multilayer films were designed based on the idea of combining highly spin-polarized materials with strong perpendicular magnetic anisotropy(PMA)films.The PMA of Pd/CMS/Co/Pd multilayer films was studied by optimizing the growth conditions and thickness of each film layer.The optimal structure of the multilayer films was Pd(6 nm)/CMS(5 nm)/Co(2 nm)/Pd(1 nm).Its abnormal Hall resistance(R_(Hall)),coercivity(H_(c))and effective magnetic anisotropy constant(Keff)are 0.08Ω,284 Oe and 1.36 Merg/cm^(3),respectively,which are 100%,492%,and 183%higher than the corresponding values(0.04Ω,48 Oe,and 0.48 Merg/cm^(3))of the Pd(6 nm)/Co(1 nm)/Pd(3 nm)trilayer films.The analysis shows that the increases of the above values are the result of the Pd/CMS interface effect and CMS/Co interface ferromagnetic(FM)coupling,and that it is closely related to the thickness of each film layer in the multilayer films and the growth conditions of the multilayer films.展开更多
High critical current density(>10^(6)A/cm^(2))is one of major obstacles to realize practical applications of the currentdriven magnetization reversal devices.In this work,we successfully prepared Pd/CoZr(3.5 nm)/Mg...High critical current density(>10^(6)A/cm^(2))is one of major obstacles to realize practical applications of the currentdriven magnetization reversal devices.In this work,we successfully prepared Pd/CoZr(3.5 nm)/MgO thin films with large perpendicular magnetic anisotropy and demonstrated a way of reducing the critical current density with a low out-of-plane magnetic field in the Pd/CoZr/MgO stack.Under the assistance of an out-of-plane magnetic field,the magnetization can be fully reversed with a current density of about 10^(4)A/cm^(2).The magnetization reversal is attributed to the combined effect of the out-of-plane magnetic field and the current-induced spin-orbital torque.It is found that the current-driven magnetization reversal is highly relevant to the temperature owing to the varied spin-orbital torque,and the current-driven magnetization reversal will be more efficient in low-temperature range,while the magnetic field is helpful for the magnetization reversal in high-temperature range.展开更多
Pseudo spin valves（SVs） exhibiting perpendicular magnetic anisotropy were prepared by magnetron sputtering. Magnetization measurements of the Co/Pt multilayers were performed to select the reference and free layers....Pseudo spin valves（SVs） exhibiting perpendicular magnetic anisotropy were prepared by magnetron sputtering. Magnetization measurements of the Co/Pt multilayers were performed to select the reference and free layers. The selection criteria are square magnetic hysteresis loops, weaker current shunting effect, and proper coercivity. The optimal reference layer and free layer are Pt（5.0 nm）/[Co（0.4 nm）/Pt（0.6 nm）]3/Co（0.4 nm）/Cu（3.0 nm）and Cu（3.0 nm）/[Co（0.4 nm）/Pt（1.5 nm）]4, respectively.The resulting pseudo SV exhibits two well-separated hysteresis loops when the field is applied perpendicular to the film plane. The minor hysteresis loop corresponding to the free layer shifts toward negative direction of the magnetic field axis, indicating ferromagnetic interlayer exchange coupling between the two magnetic layers. The coupling also enhances the coercivity（HC） of both layers. The perpendicular giant magnetoresistance（GMR） of 2.7 % is achieved with current in plane measurement. The GMR first increases when Pt seed layer is thickened, reaches a maximum of 3.0 % at 4 nm and then decreases with the further increase of thickness. But thicker Cu spacer layer always lowers the GMR of the SV.展开更多
The effect of ultrathin Fe layer on perpendicular magnetic anisotropy(PMA) in magnetron-sputtered Co/Pt multilayers was investigated by magnetic measurements.Magnetization hysteresis(M-H) loops and microstructures of ...The effect of ultrathin Fe layer on perpendicular magnetic anisotropy(PMA) in magnetron-sputtered Co/Pt multilayers was investigated by magnetic measurements.Magnetization hysteresis(M-H) loops and microstructures of the samples were measured by vibrating sample magnetometer(VSM) and X-ray diffraction(XRD) and highresolution transmission electron microscopy(HRTEM),respectively.It is found that the PMA is strongly dependent on the interface where Fe layer was doped.When Fe layer was doped at Co/Pt interface where Pt was deposited on Co,the PMA decreases monotonically with Fe layer thickness(tFe) increasing.However,when Fe layer was doped at Pt/Co interface where Co was deposited on Pt,the PMA shows a peak at t_(Fe)=0.1 nm.It is considered that the PMA variation is mainly due to the tuning in the electron occupation states of 3 d orbits at Fe-doped Pt/Co interface.Furthermore,the annealing stability of PMA can also be improved when Fe layer was doped at Pt/Co interface.HRTEM results demonstrate that the magnetic anisotropy evolution is mainly caused by anneal-induced interdiffusion.展开更多
In a magnetic nanostripe, the effects of perpendicular magnetic anisotropy（PMA） on the current-driven horizontal motion of vortex wall along the stripe and the vertical motion of the vortex core are studied by micro...In a magnetic nanostripe, the effects of perpendicular magnetic anisotropy（PMA） on the current-driven horizontal motion of vortex wall along the stripe and the vertical motion of the vortex core are studied by micromagnetic simulations.The results show that the horizontal and vertical motion can generally be monotonously enhanced by PMA. However, when the current is small, a nonmonotonic phenomenon for the horizontal motion is found. Namely, the velocity of the horizontal motion firstly decreases and then increases with the increase of the PMA. We find that the reason for this is that the PMA can firstly increase and then decrease the confining force induced by the confining potential energy. In addition, the PMA always enhances the driving force induced by the current.展开更多
Enhancement of post-annealing stability in Co/ Ni multilayers with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy （PMA） was obtained by inserting Au layers into Ni/Co interfaces. After annealing at 350 ℃, the effective mag- net...Enhancement of post-annealing stability in Co/ Ni multilayers with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy （PMA） was obtained by inserting Au layers into Ni/Co interfaces. After annealing at 350 ℃, the effective mag- netic anisotropy density （Kef0 for Ta（3）/Pt（2）/[Co（0.3）/ Ni（0.6）/Au（0.3）]× 3/Co（0.3）/Pt（1）/Ta（3） （in nm） keeps at 0.48 × 105 J·m^-3. Scanning transmission electron micro- scopy-high-angle annular dark field （STEM-HAADF） analysis shows that the diffusion between Ni and Co layers is obstructed by the Au insertion layers among them, which is responsible for the post-annealing stability enhancement of the multilayers. Multilayers with Pt insertion layers were also investigated as reference samples in this work. Com- pared with Pt-layer-inserted Co/Ni multilayers, the Au insertion layers are found to bring seldom interfacial PMA to the multilayers, making it competitive in being employed to enhance the post-annealing stability of PMA Co/Ni multilayers which are used for magnetic random access memory devices （MRAM）.展开更多
We demonstrate that radio frequency(RF)magnetron sputtering technique can modify the perpendicular magnetic anisotropy(PMA)of Pt/Co/normal metal(NM)thin films.Influence of ion irradiation during RF magnetron sputterin...We demonstrate that radio frequency(RF)magnetron sputtering technique can modify the perpendicular magnetic anisotropy(PMA)of Pt/Co/normal metal(NM)thin films.Influence of ion irradiation during RF magnetron sputtering should not be neglected and it can weaken PMA of the deposited magnetic films.The magnitude of this influence can be controlled by tuning RF magnetron sputtering deposition conditions and the upper NM layer thickness.According to the stopping and range of ions in matter(SRIM)simulation results,defects such as displacement atoms and vacancies in the deposited film will increase after the RF magnetron sputtering,which can account for the weakness of PMA.The amplitude changes of the Hall resistance and the threshold current intensity of spin orbit torque(SOT)induced magnetization switching also can be modified.Our study could be useful for controlling magnetic properties of PMA films and designing new type of SOT-based spintronic devices.展开更多
Recent progresses in magnetic tunnel junctions with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy （PMA） are reviewed and summarized. At first, the concept and source of perpendicular magnetic anisotropy （PMA） are introduced. ...Recent progresses in magnetic tunnel junctions with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy （PMA） are reviewed and summarized. At first, the concept and source of perpendicular magnetic anisotropy （PMA） are introduced. Next, a historical overview of PMA materials as magnetic electrodes, such as the RE-TM alloys TbFeCo and GdFeCo, novel tetragonal manganese alloys Mn-Ga, L10-ordered （Co, Fe）/Pt alloy, multilayer film [Co, Fe, CoFe/Pt, Pd, Ni, AU]N, and ultra-thin magnetic metal/oxidized barrier is offered. The other part of the article focuses on the optimization and fabrication of CoFeB/MgO/CoFeB p-MTJs, which is thought to have high potential to meet the main demands for non-volatile magnetic random access memory.展开更多
Microstructures and magnetic properties of Ta/Pt/Co 2 FeAl（CFA）/MgO multilayers are studied to understand perpendicular magnetic anisotropy（PMA） of half-metallic full-Heusler alloy films.PMA is realized in a 2.5-n...Microstructures and magnetic properties of Ta/Pt/Co 2 FeAl（CFA）/MgO multilayers are studied to understand perpendicular magnetic anisotropy（PMA） of half-metallic full-Heusler alloy films.PMA is realized in a 2.5-nm CFA film with B2-ordered structure observed by a high resolution transmission electron microscope.It is demonstrated that a high quality interface between the ferromagnetic layer and oxide layer is not essential for PMA.The conversions between in-plane anisotropy and PMA are investigated to study the dependence of magnetic moment on temperature.At the intersection points,the decreasing slope of the saturation magnetization（M s） changes because of the conversions.The dependence of M s on the annealing temperature and MgO thickness is also studied.展开更多
The dependence of perpendicular magnetic anisotropy （PMA） on the barrier layer MgO thickness in MgO/CoFeB /Ta multilayers is investigated. The results show that the strongest PMA occurs in a small window of about 2 ...The dependence of perpendicular magnetic anisotropy （PMA） on the barrier layer MgO thickness in MgO/CoFeB /Ta multilayers is investigated. The results show that the strongest PMA occurs in a small window of about 2 4nm with the increase of MgO thickness from 1-1Onto. The crystalline degree of MgO and the change of interatomic distance along the out-of-plane direction may be the main reasons for the change of PMA in these multilayers. Moreover, the roughnesses of 2- and 4-nm-thick MgO samples are 3.163 and 1.8 nm, respectively, and both the samples show PMA. These results could be used to tune the magnetic characteristic of the ultra thin CoFeB film for future applications in perpendicular magnetic devices.展开更多
Electric-field control of perpendicular magnetic anisotropy(PMA) is a feasible way to manipulate perpendicular magnetization,which is of great importance for realizing energy-efficient spintronics.Here,we propose a no...Electric-field control of perpendicular magnetic anisotropy(PMA) is a feasible way to manipulate perpendicular magnetization,which is of great importance for realizing energy-efficient spintronics.Here,we propose a novel approach to accomplish this task at room temperature by resistive switching(RS) via electrochemical metallization(ECM) in a device with the stack of Si/SiO_(2)/Ta/Pt/Ag/Mn-doped ZnO(MZO)/Pt/Co/Pt/ITO.By applying certain voltages,the device could be set at high-resistance-state(HRS) and low-resistance-state(LRS),accompanied with a larger and a smaller coercivity(H_(C)),respectively,which demonstrates a nonvolatile E-field control of PMA.Based on our previous studies and the present control experiments,the electric modulation of PMA can be briefly explained as follows.At LRS,the Ag conductive filaments form and pass through the entire MZO layer and finally reach the Pt/Co/Pt sandwich,leading to weakening of PMA and reduction of H_(C).In contrast,at HRS,most of the Ag filaments dissolve and leave away from the Pt/Co/Pt sandwich,causing partial recovery of PMA and an increase of H_(C).This work provides a new clue to designing low-power spintronic devices based on PMA films.展开更多
We systematically investigated the Ni and Co thickness-dependent perpendicular magnetic anisotropy(PMA)coefficient,magnetic domain structures,and magnetization dynamics of Pt(5 nm)/[Co(t_(Co))/Ni(t_(Ni))]_(5)/Pt(1 nm)...We systematically investigated the Ni and Co thickness-dependent perpendicular magnetic anisotropy(PMA)coefficient,magnetic domain structures,and magnetization dynamics of Pt(5 nm)/[Co(t_(Co))/Ni(t_(Ni))]_(5)/Pt(1 nm)multilayers by combining the four standard magnetic characterization techniques.The magnetic-related hysteresis loops obtained from the field-dependent magnetization M and anomalous Hall resistivity(AHR)ρxy showed that the two serial multilayers with t_(Co)=0.2 nm and 0.3 nm have the optimum PMA coefficient K_(U) as well as the highest coercivity H_(C) at the Ni thickness t_(Ni)=0.6 nm.Additionally,the magnetic domain structures obtained by magneto-optic Kerr effect(MOKE)microscopy also significantly depend on the thickness and K_(U) of the films.Furthermore,the thickness-dependent linewidth of ferromagnetic resonance is inversely proportional to K_(U) and H_(C),indicating that inhomogeneous magnetic properties dominate the linewidth.However,the intrinsic Gilbert damping constant determined by a linear fitting of the frequency-dependent linewidth does not depend on the Ni thickness and K_(U).Our results could help promote the PMA[Co/Ni]multilayer applications in various spintronic and spin-orbitronic devices.展开更多
In this article, we review the recent progress in growth, structural characterizations, magnetic properties, and related spintronic devices of tetragonal MnxGa and MnxA1 thin films with perpendicular magnetic anisotro...In this article, we review the recent progress in growth, structural characterizations, magnetic properties, and related spintronic devices of tetragonal MnxGa and MnxA1 thin films with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. First, we present a brief introduction to the demands for perpendicularly magnetized materials in spintronics, magnetic recording, and perma- nent magnets applications, and the most promising candidates of tetragonal MnxGa and MnxA1 with strong perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. Then, we focus on the recent progress of perpendicularly magnetized MnxGa and MnxA1 respec- tively, including their lattice structures, bulk synthesis, epitaxial growth, structural characterizations, magnetic and other spin-dependent properties, and spintronic devices like magnetic tunneling junctions, spin valves, and spin injectors into semiconductors. Finally, we give a summary and a perspective of these perpendicularly magnetized Mn-based binary alloy films for future applications.展开更多
Compensated ferrimagnetic insulators are particularly interesting for enabling functional spintronic,optical,and microwave devices.Among many different garnets,Gd_(3)Fe_(5)O_(12)(GdIG)is a representative compensated f...Compensated ferrimagnetic insulators are particularly interesting for enabling functional spintronic,optical,and microwave devices.Among many different garnets,Gd_(3)Fe_(5)O_(12)(GdIG)is a representative compensated ferrimagnetic insulator.In this paper,we will study the evolution of the surface morphology,the magnetic properties,and the magnetization compensation through changing the following parameters:the annealing temperature,the growth temperature,the annealing duration,and the choice of different single crystalline garnet substrates.Our objective is to find the optimized growth condition of the GdIG films,for the purpose of achieving a strong perpendicular magnetic anisotropy(PMA)and a flat surface,together with a small effective damping parameter.Through our experiments,we have found that the surface roughness approaching 0.15 nm can be obtained by choosing the growth temperature around 700℃,together with an enhanced PMA.We have also found the modulation of magnetic anisotropy by choosing different single crystalline garnet substrates which change the tensile strain to the compressive strain.A measure of the effective magnetic damping parameter(α_(eff)=0.04±0.01)through a spin pumping experiment in a GdIG/Pt bilayer is also made.Through optimizing the growth dynamics of GdIG films,our results could be useful for synthesizing garnet films with a PMA,which could be beneficial for the future development of ferrimagnetic spintronics.展开更多
Yttrium iron garnet(YIG) films possessing both perpendicular magnetic anisotropy(PMA) and low damping would serve as ideal candidates for high-speed energy-efficient spintronic and magnonic devices.However,it is still...Yttrium iron garnet(YIG) films possessing both perpendicular magnetic anisotropy(PMA) and low damping would serve as ideal candidates for high-speed energy-efficient spintronic and magnonic devices.However,it is still challenging to achieve PMA in YIG films thicker than 20 nm,which is a major bottleneck for their development.In this work,we demonstrate that this problem can be solved by using substrates with moderate lattice mismatch with YIG so as to suppress the excessive strain-induced stress release as increasing the YIG thickness.After carefully optimizing the growth and annealing conditions,we have achieved out-of-plane spontaneous magnetization in YIG films grown on sGGG substrates,even when they are as thick as 50 nm.Furthermore,ferromagnetic resonance and spin pumping induced inverse spin Hall effect measurements further verify the good spin transparency at the surface of our YIG films.展开更多
We investigate the dependence of the switching process on the perpendicular magnetic anisotropy （PMA） constant in perpendicular spin transfer torque magnetic tunnel junctions （P-MTJs） using micromagnetic simulatio...We investigate the dependence of the switching process on the perpendicular magnetic anisotropy （PMA） constant in perpendicular spin transfer torque magnetic tunnel junctions （P-MTJs） using micromagnetic simulations. It is found that the final stable states of the magnetization distribution of the free layer after switching can be divided into three different states based on different PMA constants： vortex, uniform, and steady. Different magnetic states can be attributed to a trade-off among demagnetization, exchange, and PMA energies. The generation of the vortex state is also related to the non-uniform stray field from the polarizer, and the final stable magnetization is sensitive to the PMA constant. The vortex and uniform states have different switching processes, and the switching time of the vortex state is longer than that of the uniform state due to hindrance by the vortex.展开更多
基金Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.62171013 and 61704005)the National Key Research and Development Program of China(Grant Nos.2021YFB3601303,2021YFB3601304,and 2021YFB3601300)+1 种基金the Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Project,China(Grant No.Z201100004220002)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities,China(Grant No.YWF-21-BJ-J-1043)。
文摘Spin-orbit torque(SOT)has been considered as one of the promising technologies for the next-generation magnetic random access memory(MRAM).So far,SOT has been widely utilized for inducing various modes of magnetization switching.However,it is a challenge that so many multiple modes of magnetization switching are integrated together.Here we propose a method of implementing both unipolar switching and bipolar switching of the perpendicular magnetization within a single SOT device.The mode of switching can be easily changed by tuning the amplitude of the applied current.We show that the field-like torque plays an important role in switching process.The field-like torque induces the precession of the magnetization in the case of unipolar switching,however,the field-like torque helps to generate an effective zcomponent torque in the case of bipolar switching.In addition,the influence of key parameters on the mode of switching is discussed,including the field-like torque strength,the bias field,and the current density.Our proposal can be used to design novel reconfigurable logic circuits in the near future.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.51971109,51771053,52001169,and 11874199)the National Key Research and Development Program of China(Grant No.2016YFA0300803)+1 种基金the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central University,China(Grant No.2242020k30039)the open research fund of Key Laboratory of MEMS of Ministry of Education,Southeast University。
文摘The realization of perpendicular magnetization and perpendicular exchange bias(PEB)in magnetic multilayers is important for the spintronic applications.NiO(t)/[Ni(4 nm)/Pt(1 nm)]_(2)multilayers with varying the NiO layer thickness t have been epitaxially deposited on SrTiO;(001)substrates.Perpendicular magnetization can be achieved when t<25 nm.Perpendicular magnetization originates from strong perpendicular magnetic anisotropy(PMA),mainly resulting from interfacial strain induced by the lattice mismatch between the Ni and Pt layers.The PMA energy constant decreases monotonically with increasing t,due to the weakening of Ni(001)orientation and a little degradation of the Ni–Pt interface.Furthermore,significant PEB can be observed though NiO layer has spin compensated(001)crystalline plane.The PEB field increases monotonically with increasing t,which is considered to result from the thickness dependent anisotropy of the NiO layer.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 51901008)the National Key Research and Development Program of China (Grant No. 2021YFB3201800)。
文摘Thanks to the strong perpendicular magnetic anisotropy(PMA), excellent processing compatibility as well as novel spintronic phenomenon, Co/Pt multilayers have been attracting massive attention and widely used in magnetic storage.However, reversed magnetic domains come into being with the increasing layer repetition ‘N’ to reduce magneto-static energy, resulting in the remarkable diminishment of the remanent magnetization(Mr). As a result, the product of Mrand thickness(i.e., the remanent moment-thickness product, Mrt), a key parameter in magnetic recording for reliable data storing and reading, also decreases dramatically. To overcome this issue, we deposit an ultra-thick granular [Co/Pt]80multilayer with a total thickness of 68 nm on granular SiNxbuffer layer. The Mrt value, Mrto saturation magnetization(Ms) ratio as well as out of plane(OOP) coercivity(Hcoop) are high up to 2.97 memu/cm^(2), 67%, and 1940 Oe(1 Oe = 79.5775 A·m^(-1)),respectively, which is remarkably improved compared with that of continuous [Co/Pt]80multilayers. That is because large amounts of grain boundaries in the granular multilayers can efficiently impede the propagation and expansion of reversed magnetic domains, which is verified by experimental investigations and micromagnetic simulation results. The simulation results also indicate that the value of Mrt, Mr/Msratio, and Hcoopcan be further improved through optimizing the granule size, which can be experimentally realized by manipulating the process parameter of SiNxbuffer layer. This work provides an alternative solution for achieving high Mrt value in ultra-thick Co/Pt multilayers, which is of unneglectable potential in applications of high-density magnetic recording.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(Grant No.2022YFA1204000)the Beijing National Natural Science Foundation(Grant No.Z230006)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.12304155 and 12274405).
文摘The development of magnetic heterostructures with strong perpendicular magnetic anisotropy(PMA),strong spin-orbit torques(SOTs),low impedance,and good integration compatibility at the same time is central for high-performance spintronic memory and computing applications.Here,we report the development of the PMA superlattice[Pt/Co/W]_(n)that can be sputtered-deposited on commercial oxidized silicon substrates and has giant SOTs,strong uniaxial PMA of≈9.2 Merg/cm^(3),and rigid macrospin performance.The damping-like and field-like SOTs of the[Pt/Co/W]_(n)superlattices exhibit a linear increase with the repeat number n and reach the giant values of 225%and-33%(two orders of magnitude greater than that in clean-limit Pt)at n=12,respectively.The damping-like SOT is also of the opposite sign and much greater in magnitude than the field-like SOT,regardless of the number n.These results clarify that the spin current that generates SOTs in the[Pt/Co/W]_(n)superlattices arises predominantly from the spin Hall effect rather than bulk Rashba spin splitting,providing a unified understanding of the SOTs in these superlattices.We also demonstrate deterministic switching in thickerthan-50-nm PMA[Pt/Co/W]_(12)superlattices at a low current density.This work establishes the[Pt/Co/W]_(n)superlattice as a compelling material candidate for ultra-fast,low-power,long-retention nonvolatile spintronic memory and computing technologies.
基金Project supported by Shandong Provincial Natural Science Foundation,China(Grant No.ZR2022ME059)。
文摘Pd/Co_(2)MnSi(CMS)/Co/Pd multilayer films were designed based on the idea of combining highly spin-polarized materials with strong perpendicular magnetic anisotropy(PMA)films.The PMA of Pd/CMS/Co/Pd multilayer films was studied by optimizing the growth conditions and thickness of each film layer.The optimal structure of the multilayer films was Pd(6 nm)/CMS(5 nm)/Co(2 nm)/Pd(1 nm).Its abnormal Hall resistance(R_(Hall)),coercivity(H_(c))and effective magnetic anisotropy constant(Keff)are 0.08Ω,284 Oe and 1.36 Merg/cm^(3),respectively,which are 100%,492%,and 183%higher than the corresponding values(0.04Ω,48 Oe,and 0.48 Merg/cm^(3))of the Pd(6 nm)/Co(1 nm)/Pd(3 nm)trilayer films.The analysis shows that the increases of the above values are the result of the Pd/CMS interface effect and CMS/Co interface ferromagnetic(FM)coupling,and that it is closely related to the thickness of each film layer in the multilayer films and the growth conditions of the multilayer films.
基金supported by the ISF-NSFC Joint Research Project of International Cooperation and Exchanges(Grant No.51961145305)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.52171191 and 51771145)+1 种基金the Shaanxi Key Program for International Science and Technology Cooperation Projects(Grant No.2021KWZ-12)the Youth Innovation Team of Shaanxi Universities
文摘High critical current density(>10^(6)A/cm^(2))is one of major obstacles to realize practical applications of the currentdriven magnetization reversal devices.In this work,we successfully prepared Pd/CoZr(3.5 nm)/MgO thin films with large perpendicular magnetic anisotropy and demonstrated a way of reducing the critical current density with a low out-of-plane magnetic field in the Pd/CoZr/MgO stack.Under the assistance of an out-of-plane magnetic field,the magnetization can be fully reversed with a current density of about 10^(4)A/cm^(2).The magnetization reversal is attributed to the combined effect of the out-of-plane magnetic field and the current-induced spin-orbital torque.It is found that the current-driven magnetization reversal is highly relevant to the temperature owing to the varied spin-orbital torque,and the current-driven magnetization reversal will be more efficient in low-temperature range,while the magnetic field is helpful for the magnetization reversal in high-temperature range.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 11174020, 51331002, and 51371027)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities FRF-SD-12-011A
文摘Pseudo spin valves（SVs） exhibiting perpendicular magnetic anisotropy were prepared by magnetron sputtering. Magnetization measurements of the Co/Pt multilayers were performed to select the reference and free layers. The selection criteria are square magnetic hysteresis loops, weaker current shunting effect, and proper coercivity. The optimal reference layer and free layer are Pt（5.0 nm）/[Co（0.4 nm）/Pt（0.6 nm）]3/Co（0.4 nm）/Cu（3.0 nm）and Cu（3.0 nm）/[Co（0.4 nm）/Pt（1.5 nm）]4, respectively.The resulting pseudo SV exhibits two well-separated hysteresis loops when the field is applied perpendicular to the film plane. The minor hysteresis loop corresponding to the free layer shifts toward negative direction of the magnetic field axis, indicating ferromagnetic interlayer exchange coupling between the two magnetic layers. The coupling also enhances the coercivity（HC） of both layers. The perpendicular giant magnetoresistance（GMR） of 2.7 % is achieved with current in plane measurement. The GMR first increases when Pt seed layer is thickened, reaches a maximum of 3.0 % at 4 nm and then decreases with the further increase of thickness. But thicker Cu spacer layer always lowers the GMR of the SV.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos.51371027 and 51331002)the National Key Scientific Research Projects of China (No.2015CB921502)the Ph.D.Programs Foundation of Ministry of Education (No.20120006130002)。
文摘The effect of ultrathin Fe layer on perpendicular magnetic anisotropy(PMA) in magnetron-sputtered Co/Pt multilayers was investigated by magnetic measurements.Magnetization hysteresis(M-H) loops and microstructures of the samples were measured by vibrating sample magnetometer(VSM) and X-ray diffraction(XRD) and highresolution transmission electron microscopy(HRTEM),respectively.It is found that the PMA is strongly dependent on the interface where Fe layer was doped.When Fe layer was doped at Co/Pt interface where Pt was deposited on Co,the PMA decreases monotonically with Fe layer thickness(tFe) increasing.However,when Fe layer was doped at Pt/Co interface where Co was deposited on Pt,the PMA shows a peak at t_(Fe)=0.1 nm.It is considered that the PMA variation is mainly due to the tuning in the electron occupation states of 3 d orbits at Fe-doped Pt/Co interface.Furthermore,the annealing stability of PMA can also be improved when Fe layer was doped at Pt/Co interface.HRTEM results demonstrate that the magnetic anisotropy evolution is mainly caused by anneal-induced interdiffusion.
基金Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.11247026 and 11374253)
文摘In a magnetic nanostripe, the effects of perpendicular magnetic anisotropy（PMA） on the current-driven horizontal motion of vortex wall along the stripe and the vertical motion of the vortex core are studied by micromagnetic simulations.The results show that the horizontal and vertical motion can generally be monotonously enhanced by PMA. However, when the current is small, a nonmonotonic phenomenon for the horizontal motion is found. Namely, the velocity of the horizontal motion firstly decreases and then increases with the increase of the PMA. We find that the reason for this is that the PMA can firstly increase and then decrease the confining force induced by the confining potential energy. In addition, the PMA always enhances the driving force induced by the current.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.51101012, 51271211,51331002,51371025,51371027,51471028 and 51571017)the National Key Scientific Research Projects of China(No. 2015CB921502)+1 种基金the Beijing Nova Program(No.Z141103001814039)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(No. FRF-TP-14-002C1)
文摘Enhancement of post-annealing stability in Co/ Ni multilayers with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy （PMA） was obtained by inserting Au layers into Ni/Co interfaces. After annealing at 350 ℃, the effective mag- netic anisotropy density （Kef0 for Ta（3）/Pt（2）/[Co（0.3）/ Ni（0.6）/Au（0.3）]× 3/Co（0.3）/Pt（1）/Ta（3） （in nm） keeps at 0.48 × 105 J·m^-3. Scanning transmission electron micro- scopy-high-angle annular dark field （STEM-HAADF） analysis shows that the diffusion between Ni and Co layers is obstructed by the Au insertion layers among them, which is responsible for the post-annealing stability enhancement of the multilayers. Multilayers with Pt insertion layers were also investigated as reference samples in this work. Com- pared with Pt-layer-inserted Co/Ni multilayers, the Au insertion layers are found to bring seldom interfacial PMA to the multilayers, making it competitive in being employed to enhance the post-annealing stability of PMA Co/Ni multilayers which are used for magnetic random access memory devices （MRAM）.
基金Project supported by the National Key R&D Program of China(Grant No.2017YFB0405700)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.11474272 and 61774144)+1 种基金Beijing Natural Science Foundation Key Program,China(Grant No.Z190007)the Chinese Academy of Sciences(Grant Nos.QYZDY-SSW-JSC020,XDB44000000,and XDB28000000)。
文摘We demonstrate that radio frequency(RF)magnetron sputtering technique can modify the perpendicular magnetic anisotropy(PMA)of Pt/Co/normal metal(NM)thin films.Influence of ion irradiation during RF magnetron sputtering should not be neglected and it can weaken PMA of the deposited magnetic films.The magnitude of this influence can be controlled by tuning RF magnetron sputtering deposition conditions and the upper NM layer thickness.According to the stopping and range of ions in matter(SRIM)simulation results,defects such as displacement atoms and vacancies in the deposited film will increase after the RF magnetron sputtering,which can account for the weakness of PMA.The amplitude changes of the Hall resistance and the threshold current intensity of spin orbit torque(SOT)induced magnetization switching also can be modified.Our study could be useful for controlling magnetic properties of PMA films and designing new type of SOT-based spintronic devices.
基金supported by the State Key Project of Fundamental Research of Ministry of Science and Technology,China(Grant No.2010CB934400)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.51229101 and 11374351)
文摘Recent progresses in magnetic tunnel junctions with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy （PMA） are reviewed and summarized. At first, the concept and source of perpendicular magnetic anisotropy （PMA） are introduced. Next, a historical overview of PMA materials as magnetic electrodes, such as the RE-TM alloys TbFeCo and GdFeCo, novel tetragonal manganese alloys Mn-Ga, L10-ordered （Co, Fe）/Pt alloy, multilayer film [Co, Fe, CoFe/Pt, Pd, Ni, AU]N, and ultra-thin magnetic metal/oxidized barrier is offered. The other part of the article focuses on the optimization and fabrication of CoFeB/MgO/CoFeB p-MTJs, which is thought to have high potential to meet the main demands for non-volatile magnetic random access memory.
基金Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 50831002,50971025,51071022,and11174031)the National Basic Research Program of China (Grant No. 2012CB932702)+3 种基金the Program for Changjiang Scholars and Innovative Research Team in University (PCSIRT)the Beijing Nova Program (Grant No. 2011031)the Beijing Municipal Natural Science Foundation,China (Grant No. 2102032)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities
文摘Microstructures and magnetic properties of Ta/Pt/Co 2 FeAl（CFA）/MgO multilayers are studied to understand perpendicular magnetic anisotropy（PMA） of half-metallic full-Heusler alloy films.PMA is realized in a 2.5-nm CFA film with B2-ordered structure observed by a high resolution transmission electron microscope.It is demonstrated that a high quality interface between the ferromagnetic layer and oxide layer is not essential for PMA.The conversions between in-plane anisotropy and PMA are investigated to study the dependence of magnetic moment on temperature.At the intersection points,the decreasing slope of the saturation magnetization（M s） changes because of the conversions.The dependence of M s on the annealing temperature and MgO thickness is also studied.
基金Supported by the National Basic Research Program of China under Grant No 2011CB921804the Beijing Key Subject Foundation of Condensed Matter Physics under Grant No 0114023
文摘The dependence of perpendicular magnetic anisotropy （PMA） on the barrier layer MgO thickness in MgO/CoFeB /Ta multilayers is investigated. The results show that the strongest PMA occurs in a small window of about 2 4nm with the increase of MgO thickness from 1-1Onto. The crystalline degree of MgO and the change of interatomic distance along the out-of-plane direction may be the main reasons for the change of PMA in these multilayers. Moreover, the roughnesses of 2- and 4-nm-thick MgO samples are 3.163 and 1.8 nm, respectively, and both the samples show PMA. These results could be used to tune the magnetic characteristic of the ultra thin CoFeB film for future applications in perpendicular magnetic devices.
基金Project supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (Grant No. 2022YFA1403602)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 51971109, 52025012, and 52001169)。
文摘Electric-field control of perpendicular magnetic anisotropy(PMA) is a feasible way to manipulate perpendicular magnetization,which is of great importance for realizing energy-efficient spintronics.Here,we propose a novel approach to accomplish this task at room temperature by resistive switching(RS) via electrochemical metallization(ECM) in a device with the stack of Si/SiO_(2)/Ta/Pt/Ag/Mn-doped ZnO(MZO)/Pt/Co/Pt/ITO.By applying certain voltages,the device could be set at high-resistance-state(HRS) and low-resistance-state(LRS),accompanied with a larger and a smaller coercivity(H_(C)),respectively,which demonstrates a nonvolatile E-field control of PMA.Based on our previous studies and the present control experiments,the electric modulation of PMA can be briefly explained as follows.At LRS,the Ag conductive filaments form and pass through the entire MZO layer and finally reach the Pt/Co/Pt sandwich,leading to weakening of PMA and reduction of H_(C).In contrast,at HRS,most of the Ag filaments dissolve and leave away from the Pt/Co/Pt sandwich,causing partial recovery of PMA and an increase of H_(C).This work provides a new clue to designing low-power spintronic devices based on PMA films.
基金Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos.11774150,12074178,12004171,12074189,and 51971109)the Applied Basic Research Programs of Science and Technology Commission Foundation of Jiangsu Province,China (Grant No.BK20170627)+2 种基金the National Key Research and Development Program of China (Grant No.2018YFA0209002)the Open Research Fund of Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory for Nanotechnologythe Scientific Foundation of Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications (NUPTSF) (Grant No.NY220164)。
文摘We systematically investigated the Ni and Co thickness-dependent perpendicular magnetic anisotropy(PMA)coefficient,magnetic domain structures,and magnetization dynamics of Pt(5 nm)/[Co(t_(Co))/Ni(t_(Ni))]_(5)/Pt(1 nm)multilayers by combining the four standard magnetic characterization techniques.The magnetic-related hysteresis loops obtained from the field-dependent magnetization M and anomalous Hall resistivity(AHR)ρxy showed that the two serial multilayers with t_(Co)=0.2 nm and 0.3 nm have the optimum PMA coefficient K_(U) as well as the highest coercivity H_(C) at the Ni thickness t_(Ni)=0.6 nm.Additionally,the magnetic domain structures obtained by magneto-optic Kerr effect(MOKE)microscopy also significantly depend on the thickness and K_(U) of the films.Furthermore,the thickness-dependent linewidth of ferromagnetic resonance is inversely proportional to K_(U) and H_(C),indicating that inhomogeneous magnetic properties dominate the linewidth.However,the intrinsic Gilbert damping constant determined by a linear fitting of the frequency-dependent linewidth does not depend on the Ni thickness and K_(U).Our results could help promote the PMA[Co/Ni]multilayer applications in various spintronic and spin-orbitronic devices.
基金Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.11127406)
文摘In this article, we review the recent progress in growth, structural characterizations, magnetic properties, and related spintronic devices of tetragonal MnxGa and MnxA1 thin films with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. First, we present a brief introduction to the demands for perpendicularly magnetized materials in spintronics, magnetic recording, and perma- nent magnets applications, and the most promising candidates of tetragonal MnxGa and MnxA1 with strong perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. Then, we focus on the recent progress of perpendicularly magnetized MnxGa and MnxA1 respec- tively, including their lattice structures, bulk synthesis, epitaxial growth, structural characterizations, magnetic and other spin-dependent properties, and spintronic devices like magnetic tunneling junctions, spin valves, and spin injectors into semiconductors. Finally, we give a summary and a perspective of these perpendicularly magnetized Mn-based binary alloy films for future applications.
基金Project supported by the National Key R&D Program of China(Grant Nos.2017YFA0206200 and 2016YFA0302300)the Basic Science Center Project of the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.51788104)+2 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.11774194,11804182,51831005,and 11811082)Beijing Natural Science Foundation(Grant No.Z190009)the Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Future Chip(ICFC).
文摘Compensated ferrimagnetic insulators are particularly interesting for enabling functional spintronic,optical,and microwave devices.Among many different garnets,Gd_(3)Fe_(5)O_(12)(GdIG)is a representative compensated ferrimagnetic insulator.In this paper,we will study the evolution of the surface morphology,the magnetic properties,and the magnetization compensation through changing the following parameters:the annealing temperature,the growth temperature,the annealing duration,and the choice of different single crystalline garnet substrates.Our objective is to find the optimized growth condition of the GdIG films,for the purpose of achieving a strong perpendicular magnetic anisotropy(PMA)and a flat surface,together with a small effective damping parameter.Through our experiments,we have found that the surface roughness approaching 0.15 nm can be obtained by choosing the growth temperature around 700℃,together with an enhanced PMA.We have also found the modulation of magnetic anisotropy by choosing different single crystalline garnet substrates which change the tensile strain to the compressive strain.A measure of the effective magnetic damping parameter(α_(eff)=0.04±0.01)through a spin pumping experiment in a GdIG/Pt bilayer is also made.Through optimizing the growth dynamics of GdIG films,our results could be useful for synthesizing garnet films with a PMA,which could be beneficial for the future development of ferrimagnetic spintronics.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.52072060 and 52021001)the National Key R&D Program of China(Grant No.2021YFB2801600)the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(Grant No.2021M700679)。
文摘Yttrium iron garnet(YIG) films possessing both perpendicular magnetic anisotropy(PMA) and low damping would serve as ideal candidates for high-speed energy-efficient spintronic and magnonic devices.However,it is still challenging to achieve PMA in YIG films thicker than 20 nm,which is a major bottleneck for their development.In this work,we demonstrate that this problem can be solved by using substrates with moderate lattice mismatch with YIG so as to suppress the excessive strain-induced stress release as increasing the YIG thickness.After carefully optimizing the growth and annealing conditions,we have achieved out-of-plane spontaneous magnetization in YIG films grown on sGGG substrates,even when they are as thick as 50 nm.Furthermore,ferromagnetic resonance and spin pumping induced inverse spin Hall effect measurements further verify the good spin transparency at the surface of our YIG films.
基金Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.61332003)the Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province,China(Grant No.2015JJ3024)
文摘We investigate the dependence of the switching process on the perpendicular magnetic anisotropy （PMA） constant in perpendicular spin transfer torque magnetic tunnel junctions （P-MTJs） using micromagnetic simulations. It is found that the final stable states of the magnetization distribution of the free layer after switching can be divided into three different states based on different PMA constants： vortex, uniform, and steady. Different magnetic states can be attributed to a trade-off among demagnetization, exchange, and PMA energies. The generation of the vortex state is also related to the non-uniform stray field from the polarizer, and the final stable magnetization is sensitive to the PMA constant. The vortex and uniform states have different switching processes, and the switching time of the vortex state is longer than that of the uniform state due to hindrance by the vortex.
