Skyrmion Phase in MnSi Thin Films Grown on Sapphire by a Conventional Sputtering

Abstract Topologically protected chiral skyrmions are an intriguing spin texture that has attracted much attention because of fundamental research and future spintronic applications. MnSi with a non-centrosymmetric structure is a well-known material hosting a skyrmion phase. To date, the preparation...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Won-Young Choi, Hyun-Woo Bang, Seung-Hyun Chun, Sunghun Lee, Myung-Hwa Jung
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SpringerOpen 2021-01-01
Series:Nanoscale Research Letters
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s11671-020-03462-2
Description
Summary:Abstract Topologically protected chiral skyrmions are an intriguing spin texture that has attracted much attention because of fundamental research and future spintronic applications. MnSi with a non-centrosymmetric structure is a well-known material hosting a skyrmion phase. To date, the preparation of MnSi crystals has been investigated by using special instruments with an ultrahigh vacuum chamber. Here, we introduce a facile way to grow MnSi films on a sapphire substrate using a relatively low vacuum environment of conventional magnetron sputtering. Although the as-grown MnSi films have a polycrystalline nature, a stable skyrmion phase in a broad range of temperatures and magnetic fields is observed via magnetotransport properties including phenomenological scaling analysis of the Hall resistivity contribution. Our findings provide not only a general way to prepare the materials possessing skyrmion phases but also insight into further research to stimulate more degrees of freedom in our inquisitiveness.
ISSN:1556-276X