Electrically manipulating magnetization reversal via energy band engineering

Realization of a magnetization reversal by an external electric field is vital for developing ultra-low-power spintronic devices.In this report,starting from energy band engineering,a general design principle is proposed for achieving electrical manipulation of a nonvolatile 180°magnetization reversal.A half semiconductor(HSC)and a bipolar magnetic semiconductor(BMS)are selected as the model of magnetic layers,whose conduction-band minimum and valence-band maximum are in the same and opposite spin states,respectively.Based on the analysis of virtual hopping and tight-binding models,the interlayer coupling of HSC/insulator/BMS devices is successfully tuned between ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic interactions by varying electric field directions.Moreover,the interlayer coupling nearly disappears after removing the electric field,proving the nonvolatile magnetization reversal.Using first-principles calculations,the feasibility of present design strategy is further confirmed by a representative device with the structure of CrBr3/h-BN/2H-VSe_(2).This design guideline and physical phenomena may open an avenue to explore magnetoelectric coupling mechanisms and develop next-generation spintronic devices.