Reversibly controlled magnetic domains of Co film via electric field driven oxygen migration at nanoscale

Electric field control of perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) can enable low power consumption for perpendicular magnetic random access memory devices. However, the tuning of PMA by the electric field in ferromagnetic metal thin films is less efficient and limited to the interface due to the screening effect. Alternatively, the magnetoionic effect can control PMA efficiently, which utilizes ion migrations over the surface of the ferromagnetic metal by interfacing it with the charge reservoir of oxygen ions like GdOx. In this paper, we report the reversibly controlled magnetic domains of PMA Co in the Pt/Co/GdOx trilayer via the electric field at the nanoscale using conductive atomic force microscopy and magnetic force microscopy (MFM). The magnetic domain phase values determined by MFM decrease and increase when negative and positive bias voltages of magnitude 4V are applied to the surface of GdOx, respectively. These results suggest a path toward control of PMA materials at the nanoscale by the electric field for information storage devices.National Key R&D Program of China [2016YFA0201102]; National Natural Science Foundation of China [51871232, 51571208, 51525103, 6171101158]; Key Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences [KJZD-EW-M05]; Ningbo Science and Technology Bureau (2025 ST Megaprojects); Ningbo Science and Technology Innovation Team [2015B11001]; Youth Innovation Promotion Association of the Chinese Academy [2016270]12 month embargo; published online: 10 June 2019This item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at repository@u.library.arizona.edu