journal article·2022-07-27

Precise Tuning of Skyrmion Density in a Controllable Manner by Ion Irradiation

Yue Hu, Senfu Zhang, Yingmei Zhu, Chengkun Song, Junfeng Huang, Chen Liu, Xuan Meng, Xia Deng, Liu Zhu, Chaoshuai Guan, Hongxin Yang, Mingsu Si, Junwei Zhang, Yong Peng

ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces· Volume 14· Issue 29
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Abstract

Magnetic skyrmions are topologically protected spin textures that were found to be promising candidates for next-generation spintronic devices owing to their small size and unique current-induced dynamics. Increasing skyrmions density at designated locations in a controllable manner is a prerequisite to further improve the recording density of magnetic memory devices and relevant spintronics. Here, we demonstrate that a sharp increase in skyrmion density in magnetic multilayer films can be purposefully realized at a site-specific position by ion irradiation, which has industrial applicability. The Cs-scanning transmission electron microscopy and micromagnetic simulation results indicate that the skyrmions density can be sharply increased five times after applying an exposure with an irradiation dose of 1.5 × 1014 Ga+/cm2, and the magnetic field required to create skyrmions is also reduced. The intrinsic physical mechanism of increasing skyrmion density is found to mainly originate from the formation of disorders through Ga+ irradiation, which can induce a decrease in the nucleation energy barrier of skyrmions. We further show that the artificial skyrmion patterns with tunable density can be intentionally written at specific sites by using a Ga+ ion beam. This work should contribute a significant step toward eventually realizing the practical recording application of magnetic skyrmions.
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Research context

OpenAlex topics: Magnetic properties of thin films · Advanced Memory and Neural Computing · ZnO doping and properties

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

School of Materials and Energy, Electron Microscopy Centre of Lanzhou University and Key Laboratory of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials of the Ministry of Education, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, P. R. China

Key Laboratory of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials of the Ministry of Education, School of Physical Science and Technology and Electron Microscopy Centre of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China

Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo 315201, China

State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry, Laboratory of Special Function Materials and Structure Design of the Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China

Center of Materials Science and Optoelectronics Engineering, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 101408, China

Funding

Central University Basic Research Fund of China · National Natural Science Foundation of China · Science and Technology Project of Gansu Province · Key Laboratory for Magnetism and Magnetic Materials of the Ministry of Education, Lanzhou University · Open and Shared Large-Scale Instruments and Equipments of Lanzhou University

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