Strain and voltage control of magnetic and electric properties of FeRh films

TL;DR

This paper reviews how strain and voltage can be used to control the magnetic and electric properties of FeRh thin films, highlighting their potential for energy-efficient spintronic applications.

Contribution

It summarizes current understanding and recent advances in strain and voltage control of FeRh thin films' magneto-electric properties, emphasizing in-operando tuning techniques.

Findings

Strain significantly affects FeRh magnetic phase transition.

Voltage control via piezoelectric substrates enables in-operando tuning.

FeRh shows promise for energy-efficient spintronic devices.

Abstract

FeRh based alloys may display an uncommon transition from a ferromagnetic to an antiferromagnetic state upon cooling. The transition takes place roughly above room temperature and it can be sensitively modulated by composition and external parameters, including pressure and strain. Consequently, thin films of FeRh have received attention for applications in spintronics, antiferromagnetic spintronics and sensing. Interestingly, the extreme sensitivity of its properties to strain has created expectations for energy friendly voltage-control of the magnetic state of FeRh, with a number of potential applications at the horizon. Here, after summarizing the current understanding of strain effects on the magnetic properties of FeRh thin films, we review achievements on exploiting piezoelectric substrates for in-operando tuning of their magneto-electric properties. We end with a brief summary and an outlook for future initiatives.