Abstract
The spin Hall effect is a spin-orbit coupling phenomenon, which enables electric generation and detection of spin currents. This relativistic effect provides a way for realizing efficient spintronic devices based on electric manipulation of magnetization through spin torque. However, it has been believed that heavy metals are indispensable for the spin-torque generation. Here we show that the spin Hall effect in Cu, a light metal with weak spin-orbit coupling, is significantly enhanced through natural oxidation. We demonstrate that the spin-torque generation efficiency of a Cu/Ni81Fe19 bilayer is enhanced by over two orders of magnitude by tuning the surface oxidation, reaching the efficiency of Pt/ferromagnetic metal bilayers. This finding illustrates a crucial role of oxidation in the spin Hall effect, opening a route for engineering the spin-torque generator by oxygen control and manipulating magnetization without using heavy metals.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 13069 |
| Journal | Nature Communications |
| Volume | 7 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2016 Oct 11 |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Chemistry(all)
- Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology(all)
- Physics and Astronomy(all)
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Spin-torque generator engineered by natural oxidation of Cu. / An, Hongyu; Kageyama, Yuito; Kanno, Yusuke; Enishi, Nagisa; Ando, Kazuya.
In: Nature Communications, Vol. 7, 13069, 11.10.2016.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Spin-torque generator engineered by natural oxidation of Cu
AU - An, Hongyu
AU - Kageyama, Yuito
AU - Kanno, Yusuke
AU - Enishi, Nagisa
AU - Ando, Kazuya
PY - 2016/10/11
Y1 - 2016/10/11
N2 - The spin Hall effect is a spin-orbit coupling phenomenon, which enables electric generation and detection of spin currents. This relativistic effect provides a way for realizing efficient spintronic devices based on electric manipulation of magnetization through spin torque. However, it has been believed that heavy metals are indispensable for the spin-torque generation. Here we show that the spin Hall effect in Cu, a light metal with weak spin-orbit coupling, is significantly enhanced through natural oxidation. We demonstrate that the spin-torque generation efficiency of a Cu/Ni81Fe19 bilayer is enhanced by over two orders of magnitude by tuning the surface oxidation, reaching the efficiency of Pt/ferromagnetic metal bilayers. This finding illustrates a crucial role of oxidation in the spin Hall effect, opening a route for engineering the spin-torque generator by oxygen control and manipulating magnetization without using heavy metals.
AB - The spin Hall effect is a spin-orbit coupling phenomenon, which enables electric generation and detection of spin currents. This relativistic effect provides a way for realizing efficient spintronic devices based on electric manipulation of magnetization through spin torque. However, it has been believed that heavy metals are indispensable for the spin-torque generation. Here we show that the spin Hall effect in Cu, a light metal with weak spin-orbit coupling, is significantly enhanced through natural oxidation. We demonstrate that the spin-torque generation efficiency of a Cu/Ni81Fe19 bilayer is enhanced by over two orders of magnitude by tuning the surface oxidation, reaching the efficiency of Pt/ferromagnetic metal bilayers. This finding illustrates a crucial role of oxidation in the spin Hall effect, opening a route for engineering the spin-torque generator by oxygen control and manipulating magnetization without using heavy metals.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84991327465&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84991327465&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1038/ncomms13069
DO - 10.1038/ncomms13069
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84991327465
VL - 7
JO - Nature Communications
JF - Nature Communications
SN - 2041-1723
M1 - 13069
ER -