Enhancement of perpendicular magnetic anisotropy and Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction in cobalt-based systems through interfacial engineering
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Interfacial engineering provides an effective route to tailor chiral magnetic interactions in thin-film heterostructures relevant for spintronic applications. In this work, we investigate the influence of top capping layers on perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) and interfacial Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction (iDMI) in ultrathin Co films. By depositing Ru, Ta, W, and Pt on a 1.7 nm Co layer, we selectively modify the top interface while preserving the intrinsic growth of the ferromagnetic layer. Ferromagnetic resonance, Brillouin light scattering, vibrating sample magnetometry, and magneto-optical Kerr effect measurements are used to quantify the magnetic anisotropy and chiral exchange. We find that Ta capping yields a strong PMA, leading to perpendicular, spontaneously oriented magnetization and an iDMI of -1.23 pJ/m, exceeding that obtained with W. In contrast, Ru and Pt capping layers lead to in-plane and canted magnetization spontaneously, respectively. The large PMA observed in Ta-capped films allows increased Co thickness while maintaining perpendicular anisotropy, which is expected to enhance spin polarization. These results demonstrate that top-interface engineering enables simultaneous tuning of magnetic anisotropy and iDMI, providing a practical pathway toward the design of magnetic tunnel junctions incorporating stabilized skyrmions.
Source: Physical Review Applied
DOI: 10.1103/pz1p-3rh1
Institutions: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, Laboratoire des Sciences des Procédés et des Matériaux, University of Technology and Applied Sciences, Muscat, University of Technology and Applied Sciences, University of Skikda, Nanyang Technological University, Université de Lille, Institut d'Electronique, de Microélectronique et de Nanotechnologie, Université Polytechnique Hauts-de-France, Centrale Lille Institut, Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, Sultan Qaboos University
Language: English
Subfield: Condensed Matter Physics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7213896744