Modulating doping and interface magnetism of epitaxial graphene on SiC(0001)

On the basis of first principles calculations, we report that the type and density of charge carriers of epitaxial graphene on SiC（O001） can be deliberately controlled by decorating the buffer layer with specific atoms （i.e., F, C1, O, or N）. More importantly, a fine tuning of the doping behavior from intrinsic n-type to charge neutrality to p-type and interface magnetism is achieved via increasing the doping concentration of F atoms on the buffer layer. Our results suggest an interesting avenue to the application of epitaxial graphene in nanoscale electronic and spintronic devices.

Exchange couplings in magnetic films

Recent advances in the study of exchange couplings in magnetic films are introduced.To provide a comprehensive understanding of exchange coupling,we have designed different bilayers,trilayers and multilayers,such as anisotropic hard/soft-magnetic multilayer films,ferromagnetic/antiferromagnetic/ferromagnetic trilayers,[Pt/Co]/NiFe/NiO heterostructures,Co/NiO and Co/NiO/Fe trilayers on an anodic aluminum oxide（AAO） template.The exchange-coupling interaction between soft-and hard-magnetic phases,interlayer and interfacial exchange couplings and magnetic and magnetotransport properties in these magnetic films have been investigated in detail by adjusting the magnetic anisotropy of ferromagnetic layers and by changing the thickness of the spacer layer,ferromagnetic layer,and antiferromagnetic layer.Some particular physical phenomena have been observed and explained.

Perpendicular magnetic anisotropy of Co_(85)Cr_(50)/Pt multilayers

The CoCr/Pt bilayers and (CoCr/Pt)_(20) multilayers with Pt underlayer wereprepared by DC magnetron sputtering. The effects of prepared condition on perpendicular magneticanisotropy were investigated. The results show that the thickness of Pt under-layer has a greateffect on the microstructure and perpendicular magnetic anisotropy of CoCr/Pt bilayers and(CoCr/Pt)_(20) multilayers. When the thickness of Pt underlayer increases, Pt(lll) and CoCr(002)peaks of both CoCr/Pt bilayers and (CoCr/Pt)_(20) multilayers increase and the bilayer periodicityof the multilayers is improved. The effective magnetic anisotropy of (CoCr/Pt)_(20) multilayers withPt underlayer was much larger than that of CoCr/Pt bilayers. The (CoCr/Pt)_(20) multilayers has astronger perpendicular magnetic anisotropy than that of CoCr/Pt bilayers. This is ascribed to theinterface magnetic anisotropy of the multilayers.

Stability and electronic structure studies of LaAlO_3/SrTiO_3 (110) heterostructures

The first-principles calculations are employed to investigate the stability, magnetic, and electrical properties of the oxide heterostructure of LaAIO3/SrTiO3 （110）. By comparing their interface energies, it is obtained that the buckled interface is more stable than the abrupt interface. This result is consistent with experimental observation. At the interface of LaAIO3/SrTiO3 （110） heterostructure, the Ti-O octahedron distortions cause the Ti tzg orbitals to split into the two- fold degenerate dxz/dyz and nondegenerate dxy orbitals. The former has higher energy than the latter. The partly filled two-fold degenerate t2g orbitals are the origin of two-dimensional electron gas, which is confined at the interface. Lattice mismatch between LaA103 and SrTiO3 leads to ferroelectric-like lattice distortions at the interface, and this is the origin of spin-splitting of Ti 3d electrons. Hence the magnetism appears at the interface of LaAIO3/SrTiO3 （110）.

Experimental observation of interlayer perpendicular standing spin wave mode with low damping in skyrmion-hosting[Pt/Co/Ta]_(10)multilayer

An interlayer perpendicular standing spin wave mode is observed in the skyrmion-hosting[Pt/Co/Ta]_(10) multilayer by measuring the time-resolved magneto-optical Kerr effect.The observed interlayer mode depends on the interlayer spin-pumping and spin transfer torque among the neighboring Co layers.This mode shows monotonically increasing frequency-field dependence which is similar to the ferromagnetic resonance mode,but within higher frequency range.Besides,the damping of the interlayer mode is found to be a relatively low constant value of 0.027 which is independent of the external field.This work expounds the potential application of the[heavy-metal/ferromagnetic-metal]_(n) multilayers to skyrmion-based magnonic devices which can provide multiple magnon modes,relatively low damping,and skyrmion states,simultaneously.

Anomalous Hall effect in perpendicular CoFeB thin films

Our recent research achievements in the perpendicular magnetic anisotropy （PMA） properties of the CoFeB sand- wiched by MgO and tantalum layers are summarized. We found that the PMA behaviors of Ta/CoFeB/MgO and MgO/CoFeB/Ta thin films are different. The larger PMA in the latter film is related to the lower magnetization of CoFeB deposited on MgO. Furthermore, we have demonstrated a large anomalous Hall effect in perpendicular CoFeB thin fihn. Our results show large anomalous Hall resistivity, large longitudinal resistivity, and low switching field can be achieved, all at the same time, in the perpendicular CoFeB thin film. Anomalous Hall effect with high and linear sensitivity is also found in an MgO/CoFeBFFa thin film with a thick MgO layer, which opens a door tbr future device applications of perpendicular ferromagnetic thin films.