Gigantic Current Control of Coercive Field and Magnetic Memory Based on Nanometer-Thin Ferromagnetic van der Waals Fe 3 GeTe 2
Abstract
Controlling magnetic states by a small current is essential for the next-generation of energy-efficient spintronic devices. However, it invariably requires considerable energy to change a magnetic ground state of intrinsically quantum nature governed by fundamental Hamiltonian, once stabilized below a phase transition temperature. We report that surprisingly an in-plane current can tune the magnetic state of nm-thin van der Waals ferromagnet Fe3GeTe2 from a hard magnetic state to a soft magnetic state. It is the direct demonstration of the current-induced substantial reduction of the coercive field. This surprising finding is possible because the in-plane current produces a highly unusual type of gigantic spin-orbit torque for Fe3GeTe2. And we further demonstrate a working model of a new nonvolatile magnetic memory based on the principle of our discovery in Fe3GeTe2, controlled by a tiny current. Our findings open up a new window of exciting opportunities for magnetic van der Waals materials with potentially huge impacts on the future development of spintronic and magnetic memory.
- Publication:
-
Advanced Materials
- Pub Date:
- January 2021
- DOI:
- 10.1002/adma.202004110
- arXiv:
- arXiv:2108.12111
- Bibcode:
- 2021AdM....3304110Z
- Keywords:
-
- Condensed Matter - Materials Science;
- Condensed Matter - Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics;
- Physics - Applied Physics
- E-Print:
- 61 pages, 4 main figures, 14 supporting figures