Magnetic Anisotropy Research Articles

In-plane hard magnetic BaFe12O19 thin films grown on a-plane Al2O3 112¯0 substrates

Ferrimagnetic barium hexaferrite (BaFe12O19) thin films of varying thicknesses were grown on a-plane Al2O3 112̅0 substrates at elevated temperatures using pulsed laser deposition. X-ray diffraction measurements, Raman spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy analyses were used to investigate the BaFe12O19 film growth and structure. The results indicate that the formation of an α-Fe2O3 ‘bridge layer’ promotes the growth of a BaFe12O19 phase showing an in-plane uniaxial magnetic anisotropy with an easy-axis of magnetization along the [ 0001 ] hexagonal c-axis direction. The crystallographic relationship between the existing phases is given by BaFe12O19 101̅0 //α-Fe2O3 112̅0 //Al2O3 112̅0. As the thickness increases, the fraction of the BaFe12O19 phase increases further. This is accompanied by a change in grain morphology turning from a columnar to a more elongated shape, where the short axis of the BaFe12O19 grains points along the [ 0001 ] easy axis direction.

Cobalt-doped ZnO nanoparticles and PLD-deposited thin film forms: structure, optical properties and nature of magnetic anisotropy.

Cobalt-doped zinc oxide nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized using a modified sol-gel method. Thereafter, the obtained powder was deposited on a Suprasil glass substrate by employing a pulsed laser deposition (PLD) technique. X-ray diffraction analysis with Rietveld refinement confirmed a hexagonal wurtzite ZnO phase belonging to the P63 mc space group for both samples in the NP and thin film forms. In particular, the thin film exhibited an intensive (002) XRD peak, indicating that it had a preferred c-axis orientation owing to the self-texturing mechanism. No segregated secondary phases were detected. The crystallite structure, morphology, and size were investigated using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). To study the crystalline quality, structural disorder, and defects in the host lattice, we employed Raman spectroscopy. UV-vis-NIR spectroscopy was performed to confirm the nature of the Co-doped ZnO NP powder and the film. The chemical states of oxygen and zinc in the thin film sample were also investigated via X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The M-T curve could be successfully fitted using both the three-dimensional (3D) spin-wave model and Curie-Weiss law, confirming the mixed state existence of weak ferromagnetic (FM) and paramagnetic (PM) phases. Magnetic interaction was quantitatively studied and explained by polaronic percolation of bound magnetic polarons (BMPs). Analysis of magnetic symmetry of the topological antiferromagnetic as-deposited thin film using torque measurements was performed. Based on a phenomenological model, it was revealed that the structure gives rise to uniaxial magneto-crystalline anisotropy (UMA) with the magnetic easy axis parallel to the c-axis.

Spin reorientation transition in epitaxial nanometric Nd-Fe-B films with large perpendicular magnetic anisotropy

The development of hard magnetic properties in Nd-Fe-B films with a thickness below 50 nm has been studied and the effect of the film strain on the spin reorientation transition temperature (TSR) evaluated. A value of 35 nm is found to be the lowest thickness threshold in the films grown by DC magnetron sputtering in this study for the full development of both the Nd2Fe14B phase and the broadening of the out of plane hysteresis loops. Large perpendicular magnetic anisotropy is obtained for a film of 40 nm in thickness, reaching a coercivity of 8 kOe at room temperature. A detailed characterization of epitaxial Nd2Fe14B with high magnetic anisotropy has been done by Grazing Incidence X-Ray Diffraction, lattice parameters are reported and the chemical states of Nd 3d and Fe 2p have been stablished by the analysis of Hard X-Rays Photoelectron Spectroscopy spectra. The spin reorientation transition temperature has been estimated to a value of 124.2 K. Based on experimental results, lattice strain is attributed as the main reason for the deviation of TSR by comparison with the theoretical value (135 K). No evidence of tetragonal distortion in the lattice is found below TSR in this system in contrast to previous considerations.

Dimensional Self‐Assembled Magnetic Coupling via Embedding Ferromagnetic Nanoparticles in Multi‐Channel Fibers for Microwave Absorption

Abstract1D magnetic fibers with significant morphological diversity and magnetic anisotropy are highly desirable for optimizing magnetic properties and electromagnetic responsiveness. However, it remains challenging for the precise control over internal magnetic interactions within each fiber. Herein, a strategy for self‐assembled magnetic coupling is taken to achieve the controllable reconstruction of continuous multiple coupling networks within a single fiber. High‐density ultrafine cobalt nanoparticles are uniformly embedded inside a carbon framework with a 1D multi‐channel structure (Co@MCF). This structure establishes a complex magnetic response system characterized by inherent inter‐fiber interactions and refined intra‐fiber self‐assembling coupling. The distinctive distribution of magnetic flux lines demonstrates enhanced magnetic sensitivity. This results in a minimum reflection loss of −57.65 dB and a broadband absorption frequency range of 7.28 GHz at 1.9 mm, effectively covers the entire Ku band and a substantial portion of the X band. The multi‐channel structure enhances the understanding of the relationship between microstructure and performance in magnetic fibers. Additionally, it positions Co@MCF as a highly competitive candidate for microwave absorption applications.

Structural, morphological, and magnetic properties of carbon-modified nanocrystalline Pr5Co19 alloys

Nanocrystalline rare-earth (R) and transition metal (T) alloys are known for their outstanding magnetic properties, which are driven by the combination of (R) and (T) magnetic moments. Adding carbon (C) has been proven to alter these magnetic properties. In the present work, we use X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and atom probe tomography to investigate and characterize the impact of carbon addition on the crystalline structure, morphology, and chemical distribution of Pr5Co19 and its carbides Pr5Co19Cx. The nanocrystalline Pr5Co19 compound was synthesized by high-energy ball milling and the addition of carbon was performed by a solid-solid reaction between Pr5Co19 and C10H14. TEM study revealed that after carbonation the microstructure is refined, and the mean grain size decreases from 126 nm in Pr5Co19 to 65 nm with a carbon of content 1.5. Three-dimensional APT was performed to characterize the chemical composition of Pr-Co binary systems. The analyzed Pr5Co19C1.5 sample reveals an irregular nano-lamella structure decorated by carbon atoms, the distance between the lamellas varying from 8 to 20 nm. An under-stoichiometry of Co was found in the C-rich lamellas. Fundamental magnetic properties such as saturation magnetization Ms, exchange field Hex and magnetic susceptibility χ of the Pr5Co19 and its carbides were calculated using the random magnetic anisotropy (RMA) method.

Anisotropic excitonic magnetism from discrete C4 symmetry in CeRhIn5

Anisotropy in strongly correlated materials is a central parameter in determining the electronic ground state and is tuned through the local crystalline electric field. This is notably the case in the CeCoxRh1−xIn5 system where the ground-state wave function can provide the basis for antiferromagnetism and/or unconventional superconductivity. We develop a methodology to understand the local magnetic anisotropy and experimentally investigate with neutron spectroscopy applied to antiferromagnetic (TN=3.8K) CeRhIn5, which is isostructural to d-wave superconducting (Tc=2.3K) CeCoIn5. Through diagonalizing the local crystal field Hamiltonian with discrete tetragonal C4 point group symmetry and coupling these states with the random phase approximation, we find two distinct modes polarized along the crystallographic c and a−b planes, agreeing with experiment. The anisotropy and bandwidth, underlying the energy scale of these modes, are tuneable with a magnetic field which we use experimentally to separate in energy single and multiparticle excitations thereby demonstrating the instability of excitations polarized within the crystallographic a−b plane in CeRhIn5. We compare this approach to a Seff=12 parametrizations and argue for the need to extend conventional SU(2) theories of magnetic excitations to utilize the multilevel nature of the underlying crystal-field basis states constrained by the local point-group C4 symmetry. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Harvesting Magneto-Acoustic Waves Using Magnetic 2D Chromium Telluride (CrTe3).

A vast majority of electrical devices have integrated magnetic units, which generate constant magnetic fields with noticeable vibrations. The majority of existing nanogenerators acquire energy through friction/mechanical forces and most of these instances overlook acoustic vibrations and magnetic fields. Magnetic two-dimensional (2D) tellurides present a wide range of possibilities for devising a potential flexible energy harvester. 2D chromium telluride (2D CrTe3) is synthesized, which exhibits ferromagnetic behavior with a higher T c of ≈224 K. The structure exhibits stable high remnant magnetization, making 2D CrTe3 a potential material for harvesting magneto-acoustic waves. A magneto-acoustic nanogenerator (MANG) is fabricated and the basic mechanical stability and sensitivity of the device with change in load conditions are tested. A high surface charge density of 2.919 mC m-2 is obtained for the device. The thermal strain created in the lattice structure is examined using in-situ Raman spectroscopy. The magnetic anisotropy energy (MAE) responsible for long-range FM ordering is calculated by theoretical modelling with insights into opening of electronic bandgap which enhances the flexoelectric effects. The MANG can be a potential NG to synergistically tap into the magneto-acoustic vibrations generated from the frequency changes of a vibrating device such as loudspeakers.

Ferromagnetism in heavily Fe-doped GaAs: a DFT study

Computational calculations based on density functional theory were carried out to investigate ferromagnetism in gallium arsenide (GaAs) heavily doped with Fe atoms that can substitutionally occupy gallium (Ga) or arsenic (As) sites in the zinc-blende-like crystal structure. The calculations were performed within the spin polarized density functional theory (DFT) and generalized gradient approximation (GGA) with full potential linearized augmented plane wave (FP-LAPW) method. We investigate and discuss the ab initio calculation results focusing on properties intrinsically important for spintronic applications, such as spin polarization and magnetic anisotropy. The density of states (DOS) was calculated with substitution of Fe atoms in the As and Ga sites, giving the electronic properties, as well as the magnetic ground state. According to DFT calculations, heavily doped GaAs with 25 at. % of Fe becomes a ferromagnetic metal with spin polarization as high as 69% at Fermi level. This is corroborated by experimental results previously published in literature.

Interfacial engineering of orbital orientation for perpendicular magnetic anisotropy in Co-implanted CrI3 monolayer

Two-dimensional (2D) van der Waals (vdW) magnets are believed to be promising candidates for next-generation information storage, which requires both high Curie points (TC) and large perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA). As one of the most well-known 2D magnets, CrI3 has large PMA but a relatively low TC. Recent theoretical works proposed that implanting metal atoms into the hollow sites of CrI3 could greatly boost TC. However, this process may have the unintended consequence of reducing the PMA and introducing in-plane magnetic anisotropy (IMA) instead. It is, therefore, highly required to implement an additional technique to enhance the PMA. In this work, we use the first-principles method to study the underlying mechanisms of the suppressed PMA (and induced IMA) in the Co-implanted CrI3 monolayer [denoted as Co-(CrI3)2] as an example. It is found that the Co-implantation-induced itinerant electrons cause the transition from PMA to IMA by tuning the orbital orientation of the states around the Fermi level, noting that an in-plane (or out-of-plane) electronic orbital leads to the out-of-plane (or in-plane) momentum that favors PMA (or IMA) due to the spin–orbit coupling. In order to restore the PMA, we predict that using the vdW substrate PtTe2 to construct a heterostructure with the Co-(CrI3)2 monolayer not only reduces the contributions of the interfacial out-of-plane orbitals but also generates additional intralayer in-plane orbitals, both supporting the PMA. Thus, this work provides alternative perspectives on enhancing PMA by interfacial engineering of orbital orientation, paving the way for the development of 2D strong magnets.

Multiferroicity in a two-dimensional vanadium dioxide

Two-dimensional (2D) multiferroic materials have attracted great interest owing to the integration of ferroelastic and ferromagnetic properties. We identify a novel 2D multiferroic vanadium dioxide (VO₂) monolayer exhibiting a monoclinic phase with a C2/m space group using density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The energetic, dynamic, thermodynamic and mechanical analyses indicate that the monolayer exhibits excellent stability and can be prepared experimentally. The arrangement of the electronic energy bands is analogous to that of a type I heterostructure. The electron doping at a concentration of 0.2 electrons per V atom results in a significant increase in the Curie temperature (TC) from 11.2 to 184 K estimated by Monte Carlo simulations, and a transition from semiconductor to half-metallicity. In addition, the VO₂ monolayer exhibits 120° ferroelastic switching with a moderate switching energy barrier of 32 meV per atom, subsequently allowing 120° rotation of the easy magnetisation axis. Our work reveals the intrinsic multiferroicity of VO₂, which may provide a guidance on the design of next-generation mechanical/spintronic devices.

Microstructural and Magnetic Characteristics of Nanocrystalline Sm4ZrFe33 Alloys

This work focuses on the study of the microstructure and magnetic properties of nanocrystalline powders of Sm4ZrFe33, prepared by high‐energy ball milling. The Sm4ZrFe33 compound adopts a monoclinic structure (space group Cm). Upon annealing, these Sm4ZrFe33 samples exhibit notable variations in their extrinsic magnetic properties, closely linked to temperature fluctuations. The investigation delves into the correlation between morphology, grain size and magnetic characteristics. A significant enhancement in coercivity (Hc), remanent magnetization (Mr), and maximum energy product ((BH)max) is observed, primarily attributed to the finer grain structure present in the samples. Particularly noteworthy, among all annealed specimens, the nanocrystalline Sm4ZrFe33 compound annealed at a temperature of Ta = 973 K demonstrates the most promising magnetic properties. This specimen exhibits a coercivity Hc of 18 500 Oe, remanent magnetization (Mr) of 58 emu g−1, maximum energy product ((BH)max) of 5.18 MGOe, Curie temperature (TC) of ≈804 K, and magnetic anisotropy field (Ha) of 115 980 Oe. These research findings pave the way for future investigations and applications in the realm of permanent magnets, spintronic devices, and magnetic recording, utilizing nanocrystalline alloys based on the Sm4ZrFe33 compound.

Room temperature skyrmions in Pt/Co/Gd multilayers and their non-volatile electric-field creation in multiferroic heterostructure

This study delves into the formation and control of magnetic skyrmions within a Pt/Co/Gd multilayer system. By systematically varying the thickness of the Co layer, we observe the emergence of Néel-type skyrmions, characterized by confined magnetization curls with Lorentz transmission electron microscopy. The interplay between magnetic anisotropy, Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction, and antiferromagnetic coupling at material interfaces is investigated to understand the stability and manipulation of these fascinating spin configurations. Additionally, we explore the impact of an external electric field on skyrmion generation, demonstrating a pathway for their controlled creation. The observed electric-field control of skyrmions offers a promising approach to achieving non-volatile magnetic states with low power consumption and negligible Joule heating. These findings hold great potential for advancing spintronics and magneto-electric devices, enabling modulation of skyrmions for information storage and processing applications.

Crystal Growth, Structure, and Diverse Magnetic Behaviors in Frustrated Triangular Lattice REBO3 (RE = Tb-Yb).

Triangular lattice (TL) materials are a rich playground for investigating exotic quantum spin states and related applications in quantum computing and quantum information. Millimeter-level single crystals of REBO3 (RE = Tb-Yb) with a nearly perfect RE-based TL have been successfully grown via a high-temperature flux method and structurally characterized via single-crystal X-ray diffraction. These 113-type materials crystallize in a monoclinic crystal system with a C2/c space group. Anisotropic magnetism and dominant antiferromagnetic interactions are found for the above materials based on DC magnetic susceptibility measurements. The comprehensive low-temperature specific heat data of REBO3 (RE = Tb-Tm) are characterized on single crystals for the first time, which exhibit diverse magnetic behaviors. Specifically, two weak-field-induced transitions could be found in the case of DyBO3 based on the specific heat measurements. Our results suggest that REBO3 (RE = Tb-Yb) is a TL magnetic system for investigating potential quantum magnetism.

Magnetic anisotropy of L1[formula omitted] FeNi (001), (010), and (111) ultrathin films: A first-principles study

In previous experiments, L10 FeNi thin films with different surfaces, including (001), (110), and (111), were produced and studied. Each surface defines a different alignment of the crystallographic tetragonal axis with respect to the film’s plane, resulting in different magnetic anisotropies. In this study, we use density functional theory calculations to examine three series of L10 FeNi films with surfaces (001), (010), and (111), and with thicknesses ranging from 0.5 to 3 nm (from 4 to 16 atomic monolayers). Our results show that films (001) have perpendicular magnetic anisotropy, while (010) favor in-plane magnetization, with a clear preference for the tetragonal axis [001]. We proposed calling this type of in-plane anisotropy fixed in-plane. A film with a surface (111) and a thickness of four atomic monolayers has a magnetization easy axis almost perpendicular to the plane of the film. As the thickness of the (111) film increases, the direction of magnetization rotates towards a tetragonal axis [001], positioned at an angle of about 45° to the plane of the film. Furthermore, the most significant changes in spin and orbital magnetic moments occur at a depth of about three near-surface atomic monolayers. Ultrathin L10 FeNi films with varying magnetic anisotropies may find applications in spintronic devices.

Tuning Magnetic Anisotropy of Four-Coordinated Cobalt(II) in Chain Complexes via Varying Organic Linkers

Tuning Magnetic Anisotropy of Four-Coordinated Cobalt(II) in Chain Complexes via Varying Organic Linkers

Magnetic anisotropy and phononic properties of two-dimensional ferromagnetic Fe3GeS2 monolayer

In 2023, Fe3GeS2 monolayer with Curie temperature of 630 K is predicted, which is promising to be used in next-generation spintronic devices. However, its magnetic anisotropy and phononic properties are still unclear. In this paper, we implemented the first-principles calculations on Fe3GeS2 monolayer, and found its ferromagnetic ground state with robustness to the -1.5%-1.3% biaxial strain. Meanwhile, the out-of-plane magnetic anisotropy dominated by dipolar interaction is found in Fe3GeS2 monolayer. Finally, we studied the phononic properties to identify the dynamical stability of Fe3GeS2 monolayer and highlight the contribution from the anharmonic interaction of optical phonons to the thermal expansion coefficient. We also find two single-phonon modes can be used to design quantum mechanical resonators with a wide cool-temperature range. These results can provide a comprehensive understanding of the magnetism and phonon properties of two-dimensional (2D) Fe3GeS2, beneficial for the application of 2D Fe3GeS2 in spintronics.

Magnetoelectric effects in magnetic films with alternating magnetic anisotropy: the emergence and stability of Bloch points.

Magnetic topological states are a subject of intense investigation due to their potential for advancing scalable logic and information storage technologies. In this article, we investigate topological defects in magnetic films, focusing on Bloch point-like singularities in magnetization distribution with significant implications for magnetoelectric and ferroelectric properties. We explore exchange-coupled ferromagnetic films composed of alternating magnetic layers with distinct in-plane and out-of-plane magnetic anisotropy. Through micromagnetic simulations, we analyze the magnetization reversal processes and the emergence of Bloch point-like configurations induced by external magnetic fields. We identify the conditions necessary for stabilizing these states and elucidate their ferroelectric properties. Our study reveals that Bloch points act as sources of electrical charge due to the inhomogeneous distribution of magnetization, offering opportunities for implementing their electric properties in future devices.

Orbital magnetization in two-dimensional materials from high-throughput computational screening

Abstract We calculate the orbital magnetization of 822 two-dimensional magnetic materials from the Computational 2D Materials Database (C2DB). For compounds containing 5$d$ elements we find orbital moments of the order of 0.3--0.5 $\mu_\mathrm{B}$, which points to the necessity of including these in any type of magnetic modeling and comparison with experiments. It is also shown that the alignment of orbital moments with respect to the spin largely follows the predictions from Hund's rule and that deviations may be explained by the $d$-band splitting originating from the crystal field - for example in the important case of CrI$_3$. Finally, we show that for certain insulators, Hubbard corrections may lead to large and fully unquenched orbital moments that are pinned to the lattice rather than the spin and that these moments can lead to enormous magnetic anisotropies. Such unquenched ground states are only found from density functional theory calculations that include both Hubbard corrections and self-consistent spin--orbit coupling and largely invalidates the use of the magnetic force theorem for calculating magnetic anisotropies.

Perpendicular magnetic anisotropy in multilayers arising from the interplay of thermal strains and diffusion-driven plastic deformation

Magnetic films with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) are the basis for efficient memory-storage and future spintronic devices. PMA predominantly stems from surface effects, e.g., symmetry reduction, at the magnetic-layer interface and quickly decays with increasing layer thickness. Strong PMA is thus typically observed in sub-nanometer multilayers with alternating magnetic and noble metals. Using in-situ temperature-dependent measurements of ferromagnetic resonance it is demonstrated that strong PMA can be achieved in Si/Ni multilayers with individual layer as thick as 16 nm. Here, PMA is imposed by thermal strains acting via magnetoelastic coupling and directly depends on the annealing temperature and time, which regulate the diffusion-driven plastic deformation. This opens a way to PMA-film fabrication that avoids complex and resource-intensive production of atomically thin multilayers.

Enhanced dipole-interaction in Nd-Dy-Fe-Co-B/Fe composite thick stacked trilayer

It is crucial to better understand the magnetization reversal process between soft and hard magnets and to achieve a high maximum energy product in thick composite multilayers. In this study, we find that the exchange interactions dominate in soft–hard-magnetic composite bilayers, while dipole interactions are predominant in soft–hard-magnetic composite trilayers. Based on the first-order reversal curve, magnetization reversal models are developed for both the thick composite bilayer and trilayer. Dipole interactions play an important role in the long range, resulting in higher coercivity and remanence in the thick trilayer. A multilayer in a stacked trilayer structure is achieved, which is composed of thick films with a perpendicular magnetic anisotropy at a thickness of up to 16 μm. The enhanced dipole interactions lead to a remanent polarization of 1 T and a maximum energy product of 22.5 MGOe. This work contributes to the preparation of thick films with a high maximum energy product for applications in magnetic microelectromechanical systems.