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中国物理学会期刊

非晶WTaB/CoFeB/MgO异质结的强垂直各向异性及高效自旋-轨道力矩研究

Large perpendicular magnetic anisotropy and efficient spin-orbit torque driven magnetization switching in amorphous WTaB/CoFeB/MgO heterostructures

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  • 高效自旋流源和垂直磁各向异性薄膜的研究对发展以自旋-轨道力矩(SOT)为核心的高密度磁随机存储器(SOT-MRAM)至关重要. 本文报道了由于硼元素的关键调控,非晶WTaB/CoFeB/MgO异质结具有高温度稳定性且强垂直磁各向异性,体系具有高效SOT调控特性;其有效垂直磁各向异性场高达350 mT. 进一步研究发现,体系经过450 ℃退火后,其优良的磁性能仍能保持住;在电流诱导下实现了垂直磁化翻转,临界翻转电流密度低至2.4×1010 A·m-2;通过二次谐波方法测得WTaB的自旋霍尔角为-0.44,与文献报道面内磁化体系通过自旋转移力矩-铁磁共振方法所获得的结果相一致. 本工作表明非晶WTaB可以作为新型高效电荷-自旋转换材料,有望推动低功耗垂直磁化自旋电子学器件的发展.

     

    Efficient spin-orbit torque (SOT) driven magnetization switching in thermally robust heterostructures with large perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) is crucial for the next-generation magnetic random access memory (MRAM). While β-W as a promising candidate due to its large spin Hall angle and high compatibility with CoFeB/MgO-based magnetic tunnel junctions tends to undergo a phase transition to α-W, which can significantly reduce spin Hall angle by high-temperature annealing. Here, we report that amorphous WTaB/CoFeB/MgO heterostructures grown by magnetron sputtering and annealed at temperatures up to 450 ℃, exhibit strong PMA with thermal stability and efficient SOT manipulation of magnetization states, primarily due to the addition of Boron (B). Structural characterizations via X-ray diffraction and cross-sectional high-resolution transmission electron microscopy demonstrate the amorphous nature of WTaB buffer layer and (001) orientated CoFeB/MgO stack after annealing. Magnetization measurement by vibrating sample magnetometry reveals an effective PMA field of the films as high as 350 mT, even after annealing at 450 ℃. Furthermore, the current-induced magnetization switching was achieved with a critical switching current density Jc as low as 2.4×1010 A·m-2 under an assistant field of 200 mT, indicative of a lower current-switching threshold for WTaB layer compared with those of previously reported in β-Ta and β-W systems. The damping-like torque and field-like torque effective fields (HDL and HFL), as well as the spin Hall angle of amorphous WTaB, were determined through harmonic Hall voltage measurements. For initial magnetization-up state, HDL and HFL per unit current density were -8.2 mT/(1011 A·m-2) and -1.8 mT/(1011 A·m-2), respectively. While for the magnetization-down state, they were 7.6 mT/(1011 A·m-2) and -1.4 mT/(1011 A·m-2). The magnitude of HFL is much smaller than that of HDL, suggesting that a weak contribution from the interfacial Rashaba effect to the total SOT, with the bulk spin Hall effect in WTaB buffer being the dominant source. The spin Hall angle of WTaB was approximately -0.44, in agreement with the reported value in the in-plane magnetized systems measured by spin transfer torque-ferromagnetic resonance. Our work demonstrates that amorphous WTaB, as an efficient charge-to-spin conversion material, holds great potential for driving the development of low-power spintronic devices with perpendicular magnetization.

     

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