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Giant tunneling electroresistance effect driven by an electrically controlled spin valve at a complex oxide
1Department of Physics and Astronomy, Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588-0299, USA. jdburton1@gmail.com
Physical Review Letters
|May 17, 2011
Summary
A giant tunneling electroresistance effect is demonstrated in ferroelectric tunnel junctions. The magnetoelectric effect at the interface acts as a spin valve, filtering current and causing a large resistive switching effect.
Area of Science:
- Condensed matter physics
- Materials science
- Spintronics
Background:
- Ferroelectric tunnel junctions (FTJs) offer potential for novel electronic devices.
- The magnetoelectric effect at interfaces can couple magnetic and electric properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential for a giant tunneling electroresistance (TER) effect in FTJs.
- To explore the role of the magnetoelectric effect at the ferroelectric/magnetic electrode interface.
Main Methods:
- First-principles density-functional theory calculations.
- Modeling of ferroelectric tunnel junctions with La(1-x)Sr(x)MnO3 electrodes.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated that interfacial La(1-x)Sr(x)MnO3 monolayers act as an atomic-scale spin valve.
- Observed ferroelectric polarization reversal modulates spin-dependent current filtering.
- Achieved a giant resistive switching effect with over an order of magnitude change in conductance.
Conclusions:
- The magnetoelectric effect at the ferroelectric/La(1-x)Sr(x)MnO3 interface is a viable mechanism for giant TER.
- Atomic-scale spin filtering by interfacial magnetic layers enables significant resistive switching.
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