Unidirectional anisotropy mediated giant memory effect in antiferromagnetic Cr2O3 nanorods

Abstract

Understanding the magnetic anisotropy of antiferromagnetic (AF) transition metal oxides is a matter of importance for its future application in spintronics. In this study we have carried out temperature and field-dependent magnetization measurements to investigate the magnetic anisotropy of AF Cr₂O₃ nanorods (NRs) with 〈d〉_XRD = 24 nm diameter. Our experimental findings suggest that the observed field-cooled memory effect from exchange-coupled Cr₂O₃ NRs is mediated by unidirectional anisotropy. This finding opens an opportunity for devices utilizing the anisotropy field of bare AF Cr₂O₃ nano-crystalline structures.