Electric-field control of spin accumulation direction for spin-orbit torques

Nat Commun. 2019 Jan 16;10(1):248. doi: 10.1038/s41467-018-08274-8.

Abstract

Electric field is an energy-efficient tool that can be leveraged to control spin-orbit torques (SOTs). Although the amount of current-induced spin accumulation in a heavy metal (HM)/ferromagnet (FM) heterostructure can be regulated to a certain degree using an electric field in various materials, the control of its direction has remained elusive so far. Here, we report that both the direction and amount of current-induced spin accumulation at the HM/FM interface can be dynamically controlled using an electric field in an oxide capped SOT device. The applied electric field transports oxygen ions and modulates the HM/FM interfacial chemistry resulting in an interplay between the spin Hall and the interfacial torques which in turn facilitates a non-volatile and reversible control over the direction and magnitude of SOTs. Our electric-field controlled spin-orbitronics device can be programmed to behave either like the SOT systems with a positive spin Hall angle or a negative spin Hall angle.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't