Voltage-assisted Magnetization Switching in Ultrathin Fe80Co20 Alloy Layers

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates voltage-assisted magnetization switching in ultrathin FeCo alloy layers, showing large magnetic anisotropy changes and enabling electric-field control of magnetic states for low-power spintronic devices.

Contribution

It reports the first observation of voltage-induced magnetization switching in ultrathin FeCo layers with large perpendicular magnetic anisotropy changes.

Findings

Large perpendicular magnetic anisotropy change observed

Successful switching of magnetic easy axis between in-plane and perpendicular directions

Voltage-induced magnetization switching demonstrated under magnetic field assistance

Abstract

Growing demands for the voltage-driven spintronic applications with ultralow-power consumption have led to new interest in exploring the voltage-induced magnetization switching in ferromagnetic metals. In this study, we observed a large perpendicular magnetic anisotropy change in Au(001) / ultrathin Fe80Co20(001) / MgO(001) / Polyimide / ITO junctions, and succeeded in realizing a clear switching of magnetic easy axis between in-plane and perpendicular directions. Furthermore, employing a perpendicularly magnetized film, voltage-induced magnetization switching in the perpendicular direction under the assistance of magnetic fields was demonstrated. These pioneering results may open a new window of electric-field controlled spintronics devices.