Investigating the shunting effect in a Fe/Co ferromagnetic metal hybrid structure and its impact on the spin Seebeck effect

The generation of spin voltage by heat, known as the spin Seebeck effect (SSE), involves the injection of spin current from a ferromagnetic to a normal metal. In this study, the shunting effect in SSE is investigated within a hybrid structure consisting of iron (Fe) and cobalt (Co) films deposited on a Si-wafer substrate using thermal evaporation [Si/Fe(500 nm)/Co(10 nm)]. Spin voltage measurements performed in the in-plane configuration revealed a voltage reversal in the Co film and Fe film. However, in the hybrid structure (Si/Fe/Co), the voltage signal exhibited consistent directionality. This intriguing observation hints at a potential shunting effect, wherein the voltage influence from the Fe layer contributes to the Co film. Consequently, it is deduced that a significant shunting effect occurs when the resistivity of Fe is approximately three orders of magnitude lower than that of the Co film. This insight sheds light on the intricate dynamics of spin thermoelectric applications, emphasizing the role of material properties in optimizing performance.