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Anomalous enhancement in interfacial perpendicular magnetic anisotropy through uphill diffusion
Tanmay Das1, Prabhanjan D Kulkarni2, S C Purandare1
1Department of Condensed Matter Physics and Materials Science, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Colaba, Mumbai - 400 005, India.
Scientific Reports
|June 18, 2014
Summary
Interfacial chemical sharpening in cobalt-platinum (Co/Pt) multilayer stacks enhances perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA). This unexpected finding reveals a miscibility gap in ultrathin coherent Co/Pt systems.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Surface Science
Background:
- Cobalt-Platinum (Co/Pt) multilayers are crucial for magnetic storage technologies.
- Perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) is essential for high-density data storage.
- Co and Pt are generally considered fully miscible, posing challenges for interface control.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate interfacial phenomena in annealed ultrathin Co/Pt multilayer stacks.
- To understand the mechanisms behind enhanced perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA).
- To explore the miscibility of Co and Pt in ultrathin, coherent multilayer systems.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of ultrathin Co/Pt multilayer stacks.
- Post-annealing treatment of the multilayer stacks.
- Quantitative energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy.
- High-angle annular dark-field (HAADF) imaging in Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy (STEM).
Main Results:
- Observed interfacial chemical sharpening in post-annealed ultrathin Co/Pt stacks.
- Demonstrated enhanced interfacial perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA).
- Confirmed chemical sharpening via EDX and HAADF-STEM analysis.
- Provided evidence for a miscibility gap in ultrathin coherent Co/Pt multilayer stacks.
Conclusions:
- Uphill diffusion drives interfacial chemical sharpening in ultrathin Co/Pt systems.
- This sharpening significantly enhances PMA, contrary to expectations for miscible elements.
- The study reveals a miscibility gap in coherent ultrathin Co/Pt multilayers, impacting materials design.
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