Giant, Linearly Increasing Spin-Orbit Torque Efficiency in Symmetry-Broken Spin-Orbit Torque Superlattices

Magnetic heterostructures with high spin-orbit torque efficiency and low impedance have great promise for low-power spintronic technologies. We report a symmetry-broken spin-orbit superlattice [Pt_0.75Cu_0.25/Co/Ta], in which the dampinglike spin-orbit torque efficiency accumulates linearly with the repeat number n and achieves a giant value of >200% when n = 16, which is 100 times stronger than that of a conventional magnetic heterostructure with a clean Pt (e.g., 2% at a resistivity of 7 μΩ cm). The giant spin-orbit torque effect arises predominantly from the spin Hall effect of Pt_0.75Cu_0.25. The anomalous Nernst effect increases remarkably as the repeat number n increases, implying a critical need to include the thermal effect in the analysis of magnetic superlattices and multilayers. The giant spin-orbit torque, low resistivity, and strong anomalous Nernst effect suggest the great potential of the superlattice [Pt_0.75Cu_0.25/Co/Ta] for low-power memory and logic technologies as well as high-performance thermoelectric battery and sensor applications.