Modulation of thermal stability and spin–orbit torque in IrMn/CoFeB/MgO structures through atom thick W insertion

Antiferromagnet (AFM)/ferromagnet (FM) systems such as IrMn/CoFeB/MgO enable spin–orbit-torque- (SOT-) induced switching of perpendicular magnetization in the absence of an external magnetic field. However, the low thermal stability, weak perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA), and indistinctive SO...

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Published in:Applied physics letters 2020-11, Vol.117 (21)
Main Authors: Xiong, Danrong, Peng, Shouzhong, Lu, Jiaqi, Li, Weixiang, Wu, Hao, Li, Zhi, Cheng, Houyi, Wang, Yuyan, Back, Christian H., Wang, Kang L., Zhao, Weisheng
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Antiferromagnetism
Applied physics
Atomic force microscopy
Electron energy
Electron energy loss spectroscopy
Electrons
Ferromagnetism
Heterostructures
Insertion
Magnesium oxide
Magnetic anisotropy
Magnetic switching
Magnetization
Modulation
Orbital stability
Spin-orbit interactions
Thermal stability
Thickness
Torque
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cited_by cdi_FETCH-LOGICAL-c327t-b1621dbab9ba40ce9d05129051db9f8d759cd048c19f8d4386daacf9ae7a8dec3
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container_issue 21
container_start_page
container_title Applied physics letters
container_volume 117
creator Xiong, Danrong
Peng, Shouzhong
Lu, Jiaqi
Li, Weixiang
Wu, Hao
Li, Zhi
Cheng, Houyi
Wang, Yuyan
Back, Christian H.
Wang, Kang L.
Zhao, Weisheng
description Antiferromagnet (AFM)/ferromagnet (FM) systems such as IrMn/CoFeB/MgO enable spin–orbit-torque- (SOT-) induced switching of perpendicular magnetization in the absence of an external magnetic field. However, the low thermal stability, weak perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA), and indistinctive SOT of these AFM/FM heterostructures pose challenges to the practical application. Here, through the insertion of a thin W layer between the IrMn and CoFeB layers, we show that much larger effective PMA fields are obtained with annealing stability to 300 °C, which is guaranteed by the prevention of Mn diffusion via W insertion as shown in spherical aberration corrected transmission electron microscopy and atomic-resolution electron energy-loss spectroscopy measurement results. Furthermore, the spin–orbit torque is effectively tuned by changing the W layer thickness via modulation of the interfacial spin–orbit coupling at IrMn/W/CoFeB interfaces, which was reported to degrade the interface spin transparency for the spin currents. Finally, field-free magnetization switching was achieved with comparable exchange bias fields to samples without W insertion. This work demonstrates an effective strategy for improving the performance of the thermally robust AFM-based SOT device.
doi_str_mv 10.1063/5.0029522
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source American Institute of Physics:Jisc Collections:Transitional Journals Agreement 2021-23 (Reading list); AIP Journals (American Institute of Physics)
subjects Antiferromagnetism
Applied physics
Atomic force microscopy
Electron energy
Electron energy loss spectroscopy
Electrons
Ferromagnetism
Heterostructures
Insertion
Magnesium oxide
Magnetic anisotropy
Magnetic switching
Magnetization
Modulation
Orbital stability
Spin-orbit interactions
Thermal stability
Thickness
Torque
title Modulation of thermal stability and spin–orbit torque in IrMn/CoFeB/MgO structures through atom thick W insertion
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