Structural and magnetic properties of Co-Mn-Sb thin films

TL;DR

This study investigates the structural and magnetic properties of Co-Mn-Sb thin films, optimizing their preparation for use in magnetic tunnel junctions and analyzing their magnetic moments and electronic properties.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the composition-dependent structures and magnetic behaviors of Co-Mn-Sb films, and evaluates their potential in magnetic tunnel junction applications.

Findings

Co-Mn-Sb crystallizes in complex cubic structures depending on composition.

Co and Mn magnetic moments are ferromagnetically coupled.

Achieved tunnel magneto resistance ratio of up to 24% at 13K.

Abstract

Thin Co-Mn-Sb films of different compositions were investigated and utilized as electrodes in alumina based magnetic tunnel junctions with CoFe counter electrode. The preparation conditions were optimized with respect to magnetic and structural properties. The Co-Mn-Sb/Al-O interface was analyzed by X-ray absorption spectroscopy and magnetic circular dichroism with particular focus on the element-specific magnetic moments. Co-Mn-Sb crystallizes in different complex cubic structures depending on its composition. The magnetic moments of Co and Mn are ferromagnetically coupled in all cases. A tunnel magneto resistance ratio of up to 24 % at 13K was found and indicates that Co-Mn-Sb is not a ferromagnetic half-metal. These results are compared to recent works on the structure and predictions of the electronic properties.