Scientific Reports (Jul 2017)

Enhancement of perpendicular magnetic anisotropy and its electric field-induced change through interface engineering in Cr/Fe/MgO

  • A. Kozioł-Rachwał,
  • T. Nozaki,
  • K. Freindl,
  • J. Korecki,
  • S. Yuasa,
  • Y. Suzuki

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-05994-7
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 7, no. 1
pp. 1 – 11

Abstract

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Abstract Recently, perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) and its voltage control (VC) was demonstrated for Cr/Fe/MgO. In this study, we shed light on the origin of large voltage-induced anisotropy change in Cr/Fe/MgO. Analysis of the chemical structure of Cr/Fe/MgO revealed the existence of Cr atoms in the proximity of the Fe/MgO interface, which can affect both magnetic anisotropy (MA) and its VC. We showed that PMA and its VC can be enhanced by controlled Cr doping at the Fe/MgO interface. For Cr/Fe (5.9 Å)/Cr (0.7 Å)/MgO with an effective PMA of 0.8 MJ/m3, a maximum value of the voltage-controlled magnetic anisotropy (VCMA) effect of 370 fJ/Vm was demonstrated due to Cr insertion.