Magnetization switching in ferromagnets by adsorbed chiral molecules without current or external magnetic field

Oren Ben Dor, Shira Yochelis, Anna Radko, Kiran Vankayala, Eyal Capua, Amir Capua, See-Hun Yang, Lech Tomasz Baczewski, Stuart Stephen Papworth Parkin, Ron Naaman and Yossi Paltiel ()
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Oren Ben Dor: The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Shira Yochelis: The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Anna Radko: The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Kiran Vankayala: The Weizmann Institute of Science
Eyal Capua: The Weizmann Institute of Science
Amir Capua: Almaden Research Center
See-Hun Yang: Almaden Research Center
Lech Tomasz Baczewski: Magnetic Heterostructures Laboratory, Institute of Physics Polish Academy of Sciences, Al. Lotnikow 32/46
Stuart Stephen Papworth Parkin: Almaden Research Center
Ron Naaman: The Weizmann Institute of Science
Yossi Paltiel: The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Nature Communications, 2017, vol. 8, issue 1, 1-7

Abstract: Abstract Ferromagnets are commonly magnetized by either external magnetic fields or spin polarized currents. The manipulation of magnetization by spin-current occurs through the spin-transfer-torque effect, which is applied, for example, in modern magnetoresistive random access memory. However, the current density required for the spin-transfer torque is of the order of 1 × 106 A·cm−2, or about 1 × 1025 electrons s−1 cm−2. This relatively high current density significantly affects the devices’ structure and performance. Here we demonstrate magnetization switching of ferromagnetic thin layers that is induced solely by adsorption of chiral molecules. In this case, about 1013 electrons per cm2 are sufficient to induce magnetization reversal. The direction of the magnetization depends on the handedness of the adsorbed chiral molecules. Local magnetization switching is achieved by adsorbing a chiral self-assembled molecular monolayer on a gold-coated ferromagnetic layer with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. These results present a simple low-power magnetization mechanism when operating at ambient conditions.

Date: 2017
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms14567

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