Effective tuning of spin mixing conductance at the Py/Cu–Nd interface

Abstract

Spin mixing conductance (SMC) at the ferromagnetic/non-magnetic material (FM/NM) interface governs the transport efficiency of the spin current. A high level of SMC is crucial for efficient spin injection and spin manipulation. Here, we report a reliable way to enhance the SMC at the FM/NM interface by rare-earth doping in the NM layer. As evidenced by the decreased saturation magnetization in permalloy (Py)/Cu–Nd structures, an induced magnetism in Nd is proposed, which is likely to be antiferromagnetically coupled to Py at the interface. By changing the doping content of Nd, the Py/Cu–Nd interface can be well designed, which gives rise to an effective tuning of the SMC from 0.37 × 1015 to 16.26 × 1015 cm−2. Such a tuning effect of SMC is suppressed by inserting a Cu spacer, demonstrating the key role of the antiferromagnetically coupled interface to the improved SMC. Our results highlight the significance of rare-earth materials in spin transport, expanding the design capability of energy-efficient spintronic devices.

Enhanced spin–orbit torque and field-free switching in Au/TMDs/Ni hybrid structures

“…44,45 The spin transport efficiency at the interface can be evaluated by the effective spin mixing conductance g ↑↓ eff , which can be calculated as follows:where α 0 = 0.041 ± 0.009 is the intrinsic damping of Ni, g is the Lande factor, and μ B is Bohr magneton. 46 The results of g ↑↓ eff for different samples are listed in Table 2. Compared with Au/Ni, the g ↑↓ eff of Au/WTe 2 /Ni is improved 51.85%, and g ↑↓ eff of Au/MoS 2 /Ni is improved 100%.…”

“…where α 0 = 0.041 ± 0.009 is the intrinsic damping of Ni, g is the Lande factor, and μ B is Bohr magneton. 46 The results of g "# eff for different samples are listed in Table 2. Compared with Au/Ni, the g "# eff of Au/WTe 2 /Ni is improved 51.85%, and g "# eff of Au/MoS 2 /Ni is improved 100%.…”