Electric-field control of the perpendicular magnetization switching in ferroelectric/ferrimagnet heterostructures

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates a non-volatile method to switch perpendicular magnetization in ferrimagnetic heterostructures using electric fields, involving oxygen ion migration at the interface, with potential applications in low-power spintronics.

Contribution

It introduces a novel electric-field-driven approach to control ferrimagnetic magnetization via interface oxygen migration verified by spectroscopy and ab initio calculations.

Findings

Oxygen ion migration modulates CoGd oxidation states.

Electric polarization reversal induces magnetization switching.

The method offers a low-power control mechanism for spintronic devices.

Abstract

Electric field control of the magnetic state in ferrimagnets holds great promise for developing spintronic devices due to low power consumption. Here, we demonstrate a non-volatile reversal of perpendicular net magnetization in a ferrimagnet by manipulating the electric-field driven polarization within the Pb (Zr0.2Ti0.8) O3 (PZT)/CoGd heterostructure. Electron energy loss spectra and X-ray absorption spectrum directly verify that the oxygen ion migration at the PZT/CoGd interface associated with reversing the polarization causes the enhanced/reduced oxidation in CoGd. Ab initio calculations further substantiate that the migrated oxygen ions can modulate the relative magnetization of Co/Gd sublattices, facilitating perpendicular net magnetization switching. Our findings offer an approach to effectively control ferrimagnetic net magnetization, holding significant implications for ferrimagnetic spintronic applications.