Termination layer compensated tunnelling magnetoresistance in ferrimagnetic Heusler compounds with high perpendicular magnetic anisotropy

Nature Communications
Jaewoo JeongS S Parkin

Abstract

Although high-tunnelling spin polarization has been observed in soft, ferromagnetic, and predicted for hard, ferrimagnetic Heusler materials, there has been no experimental observation to date of high-tunnelling magnetoresistance in the latter. Here we report the preparation of highly textured, polycrystalline Mn3Ge films on amorphous substrates, with very high magnetic anisotropy fields exceeding 7 T, making them technologically relevant. However, the small and negative tunnelling magnetoresistance that we find is attributed to predominant tunnelling from the lower moment Mn-Ge termination layers that are oppositely magnetized to the higher moment Mn-Mn layers. The net spin polarization of the current reflects the different proportions of the two distinct termination layers and their associated tunnelling matrix elements that result from inevitable atomic scale roughness. We show that by engineering the spin polarization of the two termination layers to be of the same sign, even though these layers are oppositely magnetized, high-tunnelling magnetoresistance is possible.

References

Oct 15, 1996·Physical Review. B, Condensed Matter·G Kresse, J Furthmüller
Nov 2, 2004·Nature Materials·Stuart S P ParkinSee-Hun Yang
Jul 14, 2010·Nature Materials·S IkedaH Ohno
May 1, 2013·Journal of Physics. Condensed Matter : an Institute of Physics Journal·Delin ZhangClaudia Felser

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Citations

Jul 28, 2016·Scientific Reports·K Z SuzukiS Mizukami
Nov 10, 2018·Advanced Materials·Joseph FinleyLuqiao Liu
Aug 29, 2017·Nature·Ajaya K NayakStuart S P Parkin
Apr 9, 2021·Science and Technology of Advanced Materials·Kelvin ElphickAtsufumi Hirohata

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Methods Mentioned

BETA
PMA
X-ray
transmission electron microscopy

Software Mentioned

ScanAsyst
VASP

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