Scientific Reports (Mar 2023)

Tunable magnetic anisotropy of antiferromagnetic NiO in (Fe)/NiO/MgO/Cr/MgO(001) epitaxial multilayers

  • W. Janus,
  • T. Ślęzak,
  • M. Ślęzak,
  • M. Szpytma,
  • P. Dróżdż,
  • H. Nayyef,
  • A. Mandziak,
  • D. Wilgocka-Ślęzak,
  • M. Zając,
  • M. Jugovac,
  • T. O. Menteş,
  • A. Locatelli,
  • A. Kozioł-Rachwał

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-31930-z
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13, no. 1
pp. 1 – 9

Abstract

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Abstract We report on the magnetic properties of antiferromagnetic NiO(001) thin films in epitaxially grown NiO/MgO(d MgO )/Cr/MgO(001) system for different thicknesses of MgO, d MgO . Results of X-ray Magnetic Linear Dichroism show that together with an increase of d MgO , rotation of NiO spins from in-plane towards out-of-plane direction occurs. Furthermore, we investigated how the proximity of Fe modifies the magnetic state of NiO in Fe/NiO/MgO(d MgO )/Cr/MgO(001). We proved the existence of a multidomain state in NiO as a result of competition between the ferromagnet/antiferromagnet exchange coupling and strain exerted on the NiO by the MgO buffer layer.