Adjustable current-induced magnetization switching utilizing interlayer exchange coupling

Electrical current-induced deterministic magnetization switching in a magnetic multilayer structure without external magnetic field is realized by utilizing interlayer exchange coupling. Two ferromagnetic Co layers, with in-plane and out-of-plane anisotropy respectively, are separated by a spacer Ta...

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Main Authors: Sheng, Yu, Edmonds, Kevin, Ma, Xingqiao, Zheng, Houzhi, Wang, Kaiyou
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley-VCH 2018
Online Access:https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/55024/
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author Sheng, Yu
Edmonds, Kevin
Ma, Xingqiao
Zheng, Houzhi
Wang, Kaiyou
author_facet Sheng, Yu
Edmonds, Kevin
Ma, Xingqiao
Zheng, Houzhi
Wang, Kaiyou
author_sort Sheng, Yu
building Nottingham Research Data Repository
collection Online Access
description Electrical current-induced deterministic magnetization switching in a magnetic multilayer structure without external magnetic field is realized by utilizing interlayer exchange coupling. Two ferromagnetic Co layers, with in-plane and out-of-plane anisotropy respectively, are separated by a spacer Ta layer, which plays a dual role of inducing antiferromagnetic interlayer coupling, and contributing to the current-induced effective magnetic field through the spin Hall effect. The current-induced magnetization switching behavior can be tuned by pre-magnetizing the in-plane Co layer. The antiferromagnetic exchange coupling field increases with decreasing thickness of the Ta layer, reaching 630 ±5 Oe for a Ta thickness of 1.5nm. The magnitude of the current-induced perpendicular effective magnetic field from spin-orbit torque is 9.2 Oe/(107Acm-2). The large spin Hall angle of Ta, opposite in sign to that of Pt, results in a low critical current density of 9×106A/cm2. This approach is promising for the electrical switching of magnetic memory elements without external magnetic field.
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spelling nottingham-550242019-06-28T04:30:18Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/55024/ Adjustable current-induced magnetization switching utilizing interlayer exchange coupling Sheng, Yu Edmonds, Kevin Ma, Xingqiao Zheng, Houzhi Wang, Kaiyou Electrical current-induced deterministic magnetization switching in a magnetic multilayer structure without external magnetic field is realized by utilizing interlayer exchange coupling. Two ferromagnetic Co layers, with in-plane and out-of-plane anisotropy respectively, are separated by a spacer Ta layer, which plays a dual role of inducing antiferromagnetic interlayer coupling, and contributing to the current-induced effective magnetic field through the spin Hall effect. The current-induced magnetization switching behavior can be tuned by pre-magnetizing the in-plane Co layer. The antiferromagnetic exchange coupling field increases with decreasing thickness of the Ta layer, reaching 630 ±5 Oe for a Ta thickness of 1.5nm. The magnitude of the current-induced perpendicular effective magnetic field from spin-orbit torque is 9.2 Oe/(107Acm-2). The large spin Hall angle of Ta, opposite in sign to that of Pt, results in a low critical current density of 9×106A/cm2. This approach is promising for the electrical switching of magnetic memory elements without external magnetic field. Wiley-VCH 2018-09-30 Article PeerReviewed application/pdf en https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/55024/1/AFM-manuscript-final%20version-March-14th%20%281%29.pdf Sheng, Yu, Edmonds, Kevin, Ma, Xingqiao, Zheng, Houzhi and Wang, Kaiyou (2018) Adjustable current-induced magnetization switching utilizing interlayer exchange coupling. Advanced Electronic Materials, 4 (9). p. 1800224. ISSN 2199-160X https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/aelm.201800224 doi:10.1002/aelm.201800224 doi:10.1002/aelm.201800224
spellingShingle Sheng, Yu
Edmonds, Kevin
Ma, Xingqiao
Zheng, Houzhi
Wang, Kaiyou
Adjustable current-induced magnetization switching utilizing interlayer exchange coupling
title Adjustable current-induced magnetization switching utilizing interlayer exchange coupling
title_full Adjustable current-induced magnetization switching utilizing interlayer exchange coupling
title_fullStr Adjustable current-induced magnetization switching utilizing interlayer exchange coupling
title_full_unstemmed Adjustable current-induced magnetization switching utilizing interlayer exchange coupling
title_short Adjustable current-induced magnetization switching utilizing interlayer exchange coupling
title_sort adjustable current-induced magnetization switching utilizing interlayer exchange coupling
url https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/55024/
https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/55024/
https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/55024/