Oscillatory interlayer exchange and magnetoresistance in Fe/Cu multilayers

Spin-Dependent Transport at 2D Solids: From Nonmagnetic Layers to Ferromagnetic van der Waals Structures

Spintronics is a promising alternative to the conventional silicon transistor-based electronics that are gradually approaching their physical limitations. Ultrathin two-dimensional van der Waals (vdW) materials (2D materials) with controllable spin degrees of freedom are recognized as extremely promising spintronic materials in architectures for the post-Moore era. In this Perspective, we review recent progress on spin-dependent transport behaviors (SDTBs) confined at the 2D scale, which are the mainstream paradigms for spintronic devices. We first present the mechanism and the key factors of SDTBs in 2D nonmagnetic materials-based hybrid devices. Then, some chemical modulation strategies for inducing short-range magnetic order and magneto-electric performance into 2D nonmagnetic materials are discussed. Furthermore, we concentrate on introducing intriguing SDTBs in 2D long-range ferromagnetic materials-based vdW devices. Finally, we highlight the current challenges in the study of spin-dependent transport of 2D modified materials and 2D material-based spintronic devices, in the hope of accelerating their applications.

Perpendicular magnetic tunnel junctions with a synthetic storage or reference layer: A new route towards Pt- and Pd-free junctions

We report here the development of Pt and Pd-free perpendicular magnetic tunnel junctions (p-MTJ) for STT-MRAM applications. We start by studying a p-MTJ consisting of a bottom synthetic Co/Pt reference layer and a synthetic FeCoB/Ru/FeCoB storage layer covered with an MgO layer. We first investigate the evolution of RKKY coupling with Ru spacer thickness in such a storage layer. The coupling becomes antiferromagnetic above 0.5 nm and its strength decreases monotonously with increasing Ru thickness. This contrasts with the behavior of Co-based systems for which a maximum in interlayer coupling is generally observed around 0.8 nm. A thin Ta insertion below the Ru spacer considerably decreases the coupling energy, without basically changing its variation with Ru thickness. After optimization of the non-magnetic and magnetic layer thicknesses, it appears that such a FeCoB/Ru/FeCoB synthetic storage layer sandwiched between MgO barriers can be made stable enough to actually be used as hard reference layer in single or double magnetic tunnel junctions, the storage layer being now a single soft FeCoB layer. Finally, we realize Pt- or Pd-free robust perpendicular magnetic tunnel junctions, still keeping the advantage of a synthetic reference layer in terms of reduction of stray fields at small pillar sizes.

Evolution of Nanoscale Ferromagnetic Particles in Co-Cr and Cr-Fe Alloys Observed by Atom Probe Field Ion Microscopy

With appropriate processing conditions, nanoscale ferromagnetic particles precipitate from nonmagnetic matrix phase in the Co-Cr and Cr-Fe systems. In these heterogeneous alloys, unique magnetic properties are observed. In order to correlate such magnetic properties with the microstructures, we have employed an atom probe field ion microscope (APFIM) and a three dimensional atom probe (3DAP). In the Co-22Cr thin film sputter-deposited at elevated temperatures (~500 K), both APFIM and 3DAP data convincingly showed that the film was composed of lamellae-like ferromagnetic and paramagnetic phases of approximately 8 nm in thickness. On the other hand, it was shown that the films sputter-deposited at ambient temperature was composed of s-Co single phase without significant compositional heterogeneity. Based on these observations, we conclude that phase separation progresses during the growth of the film on a heated substrate. In the Cr-Fe alloy, large negative MR was observed in the as-quenched alloy at liquid helium temperature. However, the MR behavior changes as the phase decomposition progresses by annealing. The change in the MR behavior observed in this alloy with various heat treatment conditions will be discussed based on the microstructural characterization results by APFIM and 3DAP.

Theoretical calculation of x-ray magnetic circular dichroism spectra for Gd/Cu multilayers at the Cu K edge

To explain the remarkable oscillations observed in the x-ray magnetic circular dichroic absorption spectra from Gd/Cu multilayers at the Cu K edge, ab initio calculations have been made using the fully relativistic Korringa-Kohn-Rostoker formalism including the spin-orbit coupling. The result reproduces well the oscillatory profiles in the near-edge region, but the peaks and valleys do not correspond to those in the difference density of states [Formula: see text] for the unoccupied Cu 4p band above the Fermi level. We find small spin and orbital moments on the interfacial Cu sites, which decay towards the core of the Cu layer. Surprisingly, neither the spin nor the orbital moments die out on the Cu sites four atomic layers away from the Co interface. This extended polarization is ascribed to the hybridization of the Cu 4p and the Gd 5d states. The accuracy of the calculation is supported by the near-bulk spin and orbital moments found on the Gd sites away from the interface.