title: Ultrathin Co-O oxide layer-driven perpendicular magnetic anisotropy in a CoO/[Co/Pd]mmultilayer matrix upon annealing.
abstract: Ferromagnetic/noble metal multilayer (ML) frames are expected to serve as reliable building blocks in a variety of perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) based spintronic devices. However, ultrathin ML matrices are highly susceptible to unintended reduction of electron spin polarization in the as-grown or annealed states and often require a large repeat number. Here, we introduce a simple approach to achieve thermally stable PMA in ultrathin [Co/Pd]3MLs involving the incorporation of an ultrathin CoO capping layer. The thickness and oxygen content of the CoO layer are critical parameters to achieve enhanced PMA in ultrathin [Co/Pd]3/CoO MLs post-annealed up to 400 °C. An extensive analysis of structural features identified that robust PMA characteristics in [Co/Pd]3/CoO MLs are linked with thermally activated oxygen atom diffusion leading to structural reconfiguration upon annealing. The possible origin of the enhanced PMA in our [Co/Pd]3/CoO ML samples after high-temperature annealing is discussed, thereby enabling their use in future spintronic-related devices.
authors.affiliation: Nano Quantum Electronics Lab, Department of Electronics and Computer Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, 133-791, South Korea.
authors.forename: Woo Seong
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.affiliation: Novel Functional Materials and Devices Laboratory, Research Institute for Natural Science, Department of Physics, Hanyang University, Seoul, 133-791, South Korea.
authors.forename: Seung Mo
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Nano Quantum Electronics Lab, Department of Electronics and Computer Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, 133-791, South Korea.
authors.forename: Tae Whan
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Novel Functional Materials and Devices Laboratory, Research Institute for Natural Science, Department of Physics, Hanyang University, Seoul, 133-791, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jin Pyo
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Hong