Stabilization of perpendicular magnetic anisotropy in CeO2 films deposited on Co/Pt multilayers

作者：Figueiredo Prestes Nicholas; Zarpellon Juliana; Jurca Hugo F; Fernandes Vilmar; Varalda Jose; Schreiner Wido H; Mosca Dante H; Fichtner Paulo F P; Fabrim Zacarias E; Bouzehouane Karim; Deranlot Cyrile; George Jean Marie

来源：RSC Advances, 2016, 6(62): S6785-S6789.

DOI：10.1039/c6ra10392h

Materials with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) are of great interest as they have potential applications in high-density non-volatile memories, spin logic devices, and other spintronics applications. To attain perpendicular anisotropy, a number of material systems have been explored as ferromagnetic electrodes. Here, we use (Co/Pt)-multilayered films with PMA covered by a gold spacer-layer to induce the perpendicular magnetization in a ferromagnetic layer of cerium oxide and to control the reversible switching of its magnetization. The origin of the room-temperature ferromagnetism observed in nanocrystalline cerium oxide films remains controversial, but their wide energy band-gap and their transparency to visible light attracts attention for possible applications in magneto-optical devices. A weak magnetic stray field of 40 Oe emanates from the (Co/Pt)-multilayered film and permeates the gold spacer layer. Using a simple micromagnetic model based on the Stoner-Wohlfarth magnetization mechanism, the strength of the magnetic coupling between the ferromagnetic layers is estimated to be 18 mu J m(-2). This magnetic coupling, which is almost independent of temperature, is sufficient to promote the reversible switching of perpendicular magnetization states in the field range of a only few hundred Oersteds at room temperature.

• 出版日期2016