Electric field induced simultaneous change of transport and magnetic properties in multilayered NiOx/Pt nanowires

Abstract

Nanoscale manipulation of the transport and magnetic properties of a material offers a distinguished possibility for the development of novel multifunctional devices with ultra-small dimensions, high densities and low power consumption. This is highly desirable for promising applications in nonvolatile data storage. Here, a novel device with multilayered NiO_x/Pt (x < 1) nanowire arrays as the switching matrix was constructed by a simple electrodeposition method combining a partial oxidization process. The device exhibits bipolar resistive switching behavior with free-forming, low switching voltage, and stable endurance properties. More importantly, its magnetoresistance and magnetic properties including saturated magnetization and coercivity can be simultaneously tuned during the resistive switching process. Both the Ni-rich region constructed through electric field-induced oxygen ion migration and the pre-existence of Ni nanoparticles in NiO_x segments are responsible for the resistive switching and the corresponding modulation of the magnetoresistance and magnetic properties. This work provides a simple yet effective approach for the modulation of resistance and magnetization through electrical and magnetic control, which can provide a new way of designing a multifunctional magnetoelectric device.