Interdiffusion in epitaxial ultrathin Co2FeAl/MgO heterostructures with interface-induced perpendicular magnetic anisotropy
Zhenchao Wen, Jason Paul Hadorn, Jun Okabayashi, Hiroaki Sukegawa,, Tadakatsu Ohkubo, Koichiro Inomata, Seiji Mitani, and Kazuhiro Hono
TL;DR
This study investigates atomic interdiffusion at the Co2FeAl/MgO interface in ultrathin heterostructures and its impact on perpendicular magnetic anisotropy, highlighting the importance of interface control for magnetic device design.
Contribution
It reveals Al interdiffusion into MgO and its role in enhancing interface-induced perpendicular magnetic anisotropy in epitaxial heterostructures.
Findings
Al atoms diffuse into MgO, forming an Al-deficient Co-Fe-Al/Mg-Al-O structure.
Interdiffusion correlates with increased perpendicular orbital magnetic moments.
Control of interdiffusion is crucial for designing PMA systems.
Abstract
The structures of epitaxial ultrathin Co2FeAl/MgO(001) heterostructures relating to the interface-induced perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) were investigated using scanning transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, and x-ray magnetic circular dichroism. We found that Al atoms from the Co2FeAl layer significantly interdiffuse into MgO, forming an Al-deficient Co-Fe-Al/Mg-Al-O structure near the Co2FeAl/MgO interface. This atomic replacement may play an additional role for enhancing PMA, which is consistent with the observed large perpendicular orbital magnetic moments of Fe atoms at the interface. This work suggests that control of interdiffusion at ferromanget/barrier interfaces is critical for designing an interface-induced PMA system.
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