IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/nat/natcom/v14y2023i1d10.1038_s41467-023-40876-9.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Impact of inherent energy barrier on spin-orbit torques in magnetic-metal/semimetal heterojunctions

Author

Listed:
  • Tenghua Gao

    (Keio University
    Keio University
    Wuhan University of Technology)

  • Alireza Qaiumzadeh

    (Norwegian University of Science and Technology)

  • Roberto E. Troncoso

    (Norwegian University of Science and Technology
    Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez)

  • Satoshi Haku

    (Keio University)

  • Hongyu An

    (Shenzhen Technology University)

  • Hiroki Nakayama

    (Keio University)

  • Yuya Tazaki

    (Keio University)

  • Song Zhang

    (Wuhan University of Technology)

  • Rong Tu

    (Wuhan University of Technology)

  • Akio Asami

    (Keio University)

  • Arne Brataas

    (Norwegian University of Science and Technology)

  • Kazuya Ando

    (Keio University
    Keio University
    Keio University)

Abstract

Spintronic devices are based on heterojunctions of two materials with different magnetic and electronic properties. Although an energy barrier is naturally formed even at the interface of metallic heterojunctions, its impact on spin transport has been overlooked. Here, using diffusive spin Hall currents, we provide evidence that the inherent energy barrier governs the spin transport even in metallic systems. We find a sizable field-like torque, much larger than the damping-like counterpart, in Ni81Fe19/Bi0.1Sb0.9 bilayers. This is a distinct signature of barrier-mediated spin-orbit torques, which is consistent with our theory that predicts a strong modification of the spin mixing conductance induced by the energy barrier. Our results suggest that the spin mixing conductance and the corresponding spin-orbit torques are strongly altered by minimizing the work function difference in the heterostructure. These findings provide a new mechanism to control spin transport and spin torque phenomena by interfacial engineering of metallic heterostructures.

Suggested Citation

  • Tenghua Gao & Alireza Qaiumzadeh & Roberto E. Troncoso & Satoshi Haku & Hongyu An & Hiroki Nakayama & Yuya Tazaki & Song Zhang & Rong Tu & Akio Asami & Arne Brataas & Kazuya Ando, 2023. "Impact of inherent energy barrier on spin-orbit torques in magnetic-metal/semimetal heterojunctions," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:14:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-023-40876-9
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40876-9
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-40876-9
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1038/s41467-023-40876-9?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:14:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-023-40876-9. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.nature.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.