Creating 3D nanomagnetic circuits for Spintronics applications

Author / Creator

MMM 2020 (2020)

Conferences

MMM 2020 R1: Domain Walls (2020)

Available as

Online

Summary

Bringing nanomagnetism into the third dimension is of growing interest due to the many advantages that 3D structures provide. The possibility for larger volumes and higher surface-to-volume ratios,...

Bringing nanomagnetism into the third dimension is of growing interest due to the many advantages that 3D structures provide. The possibility for larger volumes and higher surface-to-volume ratios, as well as the introduction of new topologies, chirality and curvature into the structure, lead to numerous opportunities for new physics and applications.[1] Combining this promising field of 3D nanomagnetism with the well-established field of spintronics offers huge opportunities, a key example being the proposal to use 3D nanomagnets in a 3D racetrack architecture that promises the delivery of non-volatile and ultra-high-density information storage[2]. However, the integration of 3D nanomagnets into 2D microelectronics is challenging and has so far impeded the realisation of technological applications such as sensing, computing or memory. Now, with 3D Nano-printing capabilities, we have developed a method to integrate complex 3D magnetic nanostructures [3] into 2D microelectronic circuits and to measure the magneto-transport properties of our 3D nanomagnetic structures. Here, we demonstrate the direct integration of a complex 3D magnetic nanostructure in a microelectronic circuit (Figure 1). In particular, we exploit the recent advances of Focused Electron Beam Induced Deposition, a 3D nano-printing technique, to directly print a high-quality 3D Cobalt nanobridge on pre-synthesized electrical contacts. This 3D nanomagnetic circuit allows for the determination of the bridge's magnetic and transport properties by performing magnetotransport measurements for different geometries of the field with respect to the 3D nanostructure (Figure 2). In addition, we infer the field-induced switching process of the 3D nanostructure from the transport measurement, that includes the nucleation, propagation and pinning of domain walls. [4]. This methodology can be extended to more complicated geometries and materials, and so this work represents the first step towards the realisation of 3D nanomagnetic devices and will facilitate further exploration of 3D nanomagnetism for both fundamental and device-based studies.References: 1 A. Fernandez-Pacheco, R.Streubel, O. Fruchart, Nature Communications., Vol. 8, p.15756 (2017) 2 S. Parkin, M. Hayashi, L.Thomas, Science., Vol. 320, p.190 (2008) 3 L.Skoric, D. Sanz-hernandez, F. Meng., Vol. 20, p.184 (2020) 4 F.Meng, C. Donnelly, C. Abert (In preparation).

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