A Novel Temperature-Induced Magnetization Transition in Pt/Co/Pt Sandwiches

TL;DR

This study uncovers a temperature-dependent magnetization transition in Pt/Co/Pt sandwiches, where thicker Pt layers influence magnetic anisotropy and electronic structure, revealing complex interplay between temperature, layer thickness, and magnetization.

Contribution

It demonstrates a novel temperature-induced magnetization transition in Pt/Co/Pt sandwiches and highlights the significant role of Pt overlayer thickness on magnetic properties.

Findings

Magnetization enhancement occurs below a critical temperature T_cri.

Thicker Pt layers increase T_cri and weaken perpendicular magnetic anisotropy.

Pt polarization effects are more pronounced with thicker overlayers.

Abstract

It is found in the Pt/Co/Pt(111) sandwiches that perpendicular magnetic anisotropy weakens associated with the dramatic magnetization enhancement as the temperature decreases below a critical temperature, T_cri, which increases with the Pt overlayer thickness t_Pt. For the sandwich with enough thick Pt overlayer, it trends to an unusual state with weak perpendicular magnetic anisotropy in the absence of obvious easy direction behavior at low temperature. It suggests that Pt is more significantly polarized in the film with thicker Pt overlayer. The results reveal the strong influence of both thick nonmagnetic coverage and temperature on the electronic structure of the Pt/Co/Pt(111) sandwich.