From Binary to Ternary Transition-Metal Nitrides: A Boost toward Nitrogen Magneto-Ionics

Magneto-ionics is an emerging actuation mechanism to control the magnetic properties of materials via voltage-driven ion motion. This effect largely relies on the strength and penetration of the induced electric field into the target material, the amount of generated ion transport pathways, and the...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Tan, Zhengwei, Martins, Sofia, Escobar, Michael, Rojas, Julius de, Ibrahim, Fatima, Chshiev, Mairbek, Quintana, Alberto, Lopeandía, Aitor, Costa Krämer, José Luis, Menéndez, Enric, Sort, Jordi
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2022
País:España
Institución:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
Repositorio:DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
OAI Identifier:oai:digital.csic.es:10261/282086
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/10261/282086
https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/85139311989
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Ion diffusion
Magneto-ionics
Magnetoelectricity
Transition metal nitride
Voltage control of magnetism (VCM)
Descripción
Sumario:Magneto-ionics is an emerging actuation mechanism to control the magnetic properties of materials via voltage-driven ion motion. This effect largely relies on the strength and penetration of the induced electric field into the target material, the amount of generated ion transport pathways, and the ionic mobility inside the magnetic media. Optimizing all these factors in a simple way is a huge challenge, although highly desirable for technological applications. Here, we demonstrate that the introduction of suitable transition-metal elements to binary nitride compounds can drastically boost magneto-ionics. More specifically, we show that the attained magneto-ionic effects in CoN films (i.e., saturation magnetization, toggling speeds, and cyclability) can be drastically enhanced through 10% substitution of Co by Mn in the thin-film composition. Incorporation of Mn leads to transformation from nanocrystalline into amorphous-like structures, as well as from metallic to semiconducting behaviors, resulting in an increase of N-ion transport channels. Ab initio calculations reveal a lower energy barrier for CoMn-N compared to Co-N that provides a fundamental understanding of the crucial role of Mn addition in the voltage-driven magnetic effects. These results constitute an important step forward toward enhanced voltage control of magnetism via electric field-driven ion motion.