Rashba–Edelstein Effect in the h‐BN Van Der Waals Interface for Magnetization Switching

Abstract

Van der Waals materials are attracting great attention in the field of spintronics due to their novel physical properties. For example, they are utilized as spin‐current generating materials in spin–orbit torque (SOT) devices, which offers an electrical way to control the magnetic state and is promising for future low‐power electronics. However, SOTs have mostly been demonstrated in vdW materials with strong spin–orbit coupling (SOC). Here, the observation of a current‐induced SOT in the h‐BN/SrRuO3 bilayer structure is reported, where the vdW material (h‐BN) is an insulator with negligible SOC. Importantly, this SOT is strong enough to induce the switching of the perpendicular magnetization in SrRuO3. First‐principles calculations suggest a giant Rashba effect at the interface between vdW material and SrRuO3 (110)pc thin film, which leads to the observed SOT based on a simplified tight‐binding model. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that the current‐induced magnetization switching can be modulated by the electric field. This study paves the way for exploring the current‐induced SOT and magnetization switching by integrating vdW materials with ferromagnets.

Light‐Induced Mott‐Insulator‐to‐Metal Phase Transition in Ultrathin Intermediate‐Spin Ferromagnetic Perovskite Ruthenates

“…[16,17] The perovskite strontium ruthenate SrRuO 3 (SRO), with a strong spin-orbit coupling and metallic ferromagnetism, has recently attracted the tremendous attention for oxide spintronic and topological electronic applications. [18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26] SRO grown on STO substrates often displays the well-known MIT when the thickness decreases to a few (usually no more than four) unit cells (uc), which transforms to Mott insulator with a small bandgap. [27][28][29] Efforts in getting rid of such an either insulating or nonferromagnetic dead layer are highly challenging, which is dependent on the elegant growth control of stoichiometry of SRO, usually turning out the debated experimental results.…”

Theory of spin and orbital Edelstein effects

“…This collinear SEE can exist due to breaking of mirror symmetries by introducing a twist angle in between the graphene layers [245]. Further, [246] reports on current-induced magnetization switching due to the SEE in a h-BN/SrRuO 3 interface. The interface was found to exhibit giant Rashba SOC.…”

In situ annealing achieves an ultrafast synthesis of high coercive strontium ferrite foams and beyond

“…Permanent magnetic materials have attracted increasing attention because of their wide applications, such as in information storage, microwave devices, energy storage and conversion devices, catalysis, sensors, and biomedical science. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11] The commonly known permanent magnetic materials are SmCo 5 , Nd 2 Fe 14 B, L1 0 -FePt, and ferrites. [12][13][14][15][16][17] However, the complex preparation process, poor corrosion resistance, and high cost of permanent magnetic alloys restrict their large-scale applications.…”