Temperature assistance of electric field-controlled spin–orbit torque-based magnetization switching in PMN–PT/FePt heterostructures

Abstract

We report the temperature assistance of electric field (E-field)-controlled spin–orbit torque (SOT)-based magnetization switching of L1₀-FePt films grown on a PbMg_1/3Nb_2/3O₃–PbTiO₃ (PMN–PT) (011) substrate, which generates considerable strain via piezoelectric effects of the PMN–PT substrate under E-field. Owing to large strain-induced effective field and weak perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) at a high temperature, E-field controls the PMA- and SOT-based magnetization switching more effectively. Driven by E-field, magnetization switching is detected by a magnetic optical Kerr (MOKE) microscope under a fixed perpendicular magnetic field. Furthermore, E-field modulates change of anomalous Hall resistance regularly, which enables us to achieve the bidirectional transmission of data by designing an E-field controlled SOT-based logical circuit. This study indicates an efficient way to fabricate potential E-field-controlled spintronic applications at high temperatures.