Gate‐tunable spin valve effect in Fe3GeTe2‐based van der Waals heterostructures

Abstract Magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs), a prominent type of spintronic device based on the spin valve effect, have facilitated the development of numerous spintronic applications. The technical appeal for the next‐generation MTJ devices has been proposed in two directions: improving device perfor...

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Main Authors: Ling Zhou, Junwei Huang, Ming Tang, Caiyu Qiu, Feng Qin, Caorong Zhang, Zeya Li, Di Wu, Hongtao Yuan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2023-03-01
Series:InfoMat
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/inf2.12371
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author Ling Zhou
Junwei Huang
Ming Tang
Caiyu Qiu
Feng Qin
Caorong Zhang
Zeya Li
Di Wu
Hongtao Yuan
author_facet Ling Zhou
Junwei Huang
Ming Tang
Caiyu Qiu
Feng Qin
Caorong Zhang
Zeya Li
Di Wu
Hongtao Yuan
author_sort Ling Zhou
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs), a prominent type of spintronic device based on the spin valve effect, have facilitated the development of numerous spintronic applications. The technical appeal for the next‐generation MTJ devices has been proposed in two directions: improving device performance by utilizing advanced two‐dimensional (2D) ferromagnetic materials or extending device functionalities by exploring the gate‐tunable magnetic properties of ferromagnets. Based on the recent development of 2D magnets with the ease of external stimuli, such as electric field, due to their reduced dimensions, reliable prospects for gate‐tunable MTJ devices can be achieved, shedding light on the great potential of next‐generation MTJs with multiple functionalities for various application environments. While the electrical gate‐tunable MTJ device is highly desirable for practical spintronic devices, it has not yet been demonstrated. Here, we demonstrate the experimental realization of a spin valve device by combining a vertical Fe3GeTe2/h‐BN/Fe3GeTe2 MTJ with an electrolyte gate. The magnetoresistance ratio (MR ratio) of 36% for the intrinsic MTJ confirms the good performance of the device. By electrolyte gating, the tunneling MR ratio of Fe3GeTe2/h‐BN/Fe3GeTe2 MTJ can be elevated 2.5 times, from 26% to 65%. Importantly, the magnetic fields at which the magnetoresistance switches for the MTJ can be modulated by electrical gating, providing a promising method to control the magnetization configuration of the MTJ. Our work demonstrates a gate‐tunable MTJ device toward the possibility for gate‐controlled spintronic devices, paving the way for performing 2D magnetism manipulations and exploring innovative spintronic applications.
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spelling doaj.art-218e777f27784e5881cef639b0ee5de42023-03-23T01:44:32ZengWileyInfoMat2567-31652023-03-0153n/an/a10.1002/inf2.12371Gate‐tunable spin valve effect in Fe3GeTe2‐based van der Waals heterostructuresLing Zhou0Junwei Huang1Ming Tang2Caiyu Qiu3Feng Qin4Caorong Zhang5Zeya Li6Di Wu7Hongtao Yuan8National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Artificial Functional Materials, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures Nanjing University Nanjing the People's Republic of ChinaNational Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Artificial Functional Materials, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures Nanjing University Nanjing the People's Republic of ChinaNational Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Artificial Functional Materials, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures Nanjing University Nanjing the People's Republic of ChinaNational Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Artificial Functional Materials, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures Nanjing University Nanjing the People's Republic of ChinaNational Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Artificial Functional Materials, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures Nanjing University Nanjing the People's Republic of ChinaNational Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Artificial Functional Materials, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures Nanjing University Nanjing the People's Republic of ChinaNational Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Artificial Functional Materials, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures Nanjing University Nanjing the People's Republic of ChinaNational Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Artificial Functional Materials, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures Nanjing University Nanjing the People's Republic of ChinaNational Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Artificial Functional Materials, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures Nanjing University Nanjing the People's Republic of ChinaAbstract Magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs), a prominent type of spintronic device based on the spin valve effect, have facilitated the development of numerous spintronic applications. The technical appeal for the next‐generation MTJ devices has been proposed in two directions: improving device performance by utilizing advanced two‐dimensional (2D) ferromagnetic materials or extending device functionalities by exploring the gate‐tunable magnetic properties of ferromagnets. Based on the recent development of 2D magnets with the ease of external stimuli, such as electric field, due to their reduced dimensions, reliable prospects for gate‐tunable MTJ devices can be achieved, shedding light on the great potential of next‐generation MTJs with multiple functionalities for various application environments. While the electrical gate‐tunable MTJ device is highly desirable for practical spintronic devices, it has not yet been demonstrated. Here, we demonstrate the experimental realization of a spin valve device by combining a vertical Fe3GeTe2/h‐BN/Fe3GeTe2 MTJ with an electrolyte gate. The magnetoresistance ratio (MR ratio) of 36% for the intrinsic MTJ confirms the good performance of the device. By electrolyte gating, the tunneling MR ratio of Fe3GeTe2/h‐BN/Fe3GeTe2 MTJ can be elevated 2.5 times, from 26% to 65%. Importantly, the magnetic fields at which the magnetoresistance switches for the MTJ can be modulated by electrical gating, providing a promising method to control the magnetization configuration of the MTJ. Our work demonstrates a gate‐tunable MTJ device toward the possibility for gate‐controlled spintronic devices, paving the way for performing 2D magnetism manipulations and exploring innovative spintronic applications.https://doi.org/10.1002/inf2.12371Fe3GeTe2magnetic tunnel junctionmagnetoresistancespin valvevan der Waals heterostructure
spellingShingle Ling Zhou
Junwei Huang
Ming Tang
Caiyu Qiu
Feng Qin
Caorong Zhang
Zeya Li
Di Wu
Hongtao Yuan
Gate‐tunable spin valve effect in Fe3GeTe2‐based van der Waals heterostructures
InfoMat
Fe3GeTe2
magnetic tunnel junction
magnetoresistance
spin valve
van der Waals heterostructure
title Gate‐tunable spin valve effect in Fe3GeTe2‐based van der Waals heterostructures
title_full Gate‐tunable spin valve effect in Fe3GeTe2‐based van der Waals heterostructures
title_fullStr Gate‐tunable spin valve effect in Fe3GeTe2‐based van der Waals heterostructures
title_full_unstemmed Gate‐tunable spin valve effect in Fe3GeTe2‐based van der Waals heterostructures
title_short Gate‐tunable spin valve effect in Fe3GeTe2‐based van der Waals heterostructures
title_sort gate tunable spin valve effect in fe3gete2 based van der waals heterostructures
topic Fe3GeTe2
magnetic tunnel junction
magnetoresistance
spin valve
van der Waals heterostructure
url https://doi.org/10.1002/inf2.12371
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