Temperature assistance of electric field-controlled spin-orbit torque-based magnetization switching in PMN-PT/FePt heterostructures.

Qi Guo,Zhicheng Wang

doi:10.1039/d1ra00919b

Abstract

We report the temperature assistance of electric field (E-field)-controlled spin–orbit torque (SOT)-based magnetization switching of L10-FePt films grown on a PbMg1/3Nb2/3O3–PbTiO3 (PMN–PT) (011) substrate, which generates considerable strain via piezoelectric effects of the PMN–PT substrate under E-field. Owing to large strain-induced effective field and weak perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) at a high temperature, E-field controls the PMA- and SOT-based magnetization switching more effectively. Driven by E-field, magnetization switching is detected by a magnetic optical Kerr (MOKE) microscope under a fixed perpendicular magnetic field. Furthermore, E-field modulates change of anomalous Hall resistance regularly, which enables us to achieve the bidirectional transmission of data by designing an E-field controlled SOT-based logical circuit. This study indicates an efficient way to fabricate potential E-field-controlled spintronic applications at high temperatures.

Highlights

Spin–orbit torque (SOT)-based current-induced magnetization switching has drawn considerable interest due to its prospective utility in low energy consuming spintronic devices.[1,2,3] SOT is in a dominant position in research eld of spintronics for magnetization switching, which makes it an aplenty and energy efficient physical phenomenon.[4]
FePt with L10-ordered is an ideal magnetic alloy for information recording with high perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA), the source of which comes from hybridization between Fe 3d and Pt 5d electrons and spin–orbit coupling (SOC)
Electric eld (E- eld) controlled magnetization switching is detected by a magnetic optical Kerr (MOKE) microscope

Summary

Introduction

Spin–orbit torque (SOT)-based current-induced magnetization switching has drawn considerable interest due to its prospective utility in low energy consuming spintronic devices.[1,2,3] SOT is in a dominant position in research eld of spintronics for magnetization switching, which makes it an aplenty and energy efficient physical phenomenon.[4]. We explore the temperature assistance of E eld-controlled SOT-based magnetization switching. E- eld has an improved manipulating effect on PMA- and SOTbased magnetization switching of PMN–PT/FePt heterostructures at 350 K. E- eld controlled magnetization switching is detected by a magnetic optical Kerr (MOKE) microscope. PMN–PT substrates were polarized by E- eld of 15 kV cmÀ1. The surface roughness of the PMN–PT(011) substrates was measured by an atomic force microscope (AFM) and the magnetic properties of FePt lms were obtained on a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). Magnetization switching is detected by the MOKE microscope. RH–I loops were measured on a physical property measurement system (PPMS) with Keithley 6221, 2400 and 2182A

Results and discussion

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Conclusions