Electric-field-induced modulation of giant perpendicular magnetic anisotropy obtained by insertion of an Ir layer at the Fe/MgO interface: a first-principles study

Abstract

First-principles calculations were performed to study the effect of the insertion of magnetic layers composed of 3d, 4d, and 5d elements at the Fe/MgO interface on the magnetocrystalline anisotropy energy (MAE) and its modulation by an external electric-field. We found that the insertion of an Ir layer on the MgO substrate increases the MAE. In particular, the insertion of a Fe/Co/Ir magnetic layer leads to a large perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA). The largest PMA and the largest voltage-controlled MA coefficient is obtained for the Au/Fe/Co/Ir/MgO system.