Controlling magnetic states by a small current is essential for the next-generation of energy-efficient spintronic devices. However, it invariably requires considerable energy to change a magnetic ground state of intrinsically quantum nature governed by fundamental Hamiltonian, once stabilized below a phase transition temperature. We report that surprisingly an in-plane current can tune the magnetic state of nm-thin van der Waals ferromagnet Fe3GeTe2 from a hard magnetic state to a soft magnetic state. It is the direct demonstration of the current-induced substantial reduction of the coercive field. This surprising finding is possible because the in-plane current produces a highly unusual type of gigantic spin-orbit torque for Fe3GeTe2. And we further demonstrate a working model of a new nonvolatile magnetic memory based on the principle of our discovery in Fe3GeTe2, controlled by a tiny current. Our findings open up a new window of exciting opportunities for magnetic van der Waals materials with potentially huge impacts on the future development of spintronic and magnetic memory.
@article{arxiv.2108.12111,
title = {Gigantic current control of coercive field and magnetic memory based on nm-thin ferromagnetic van der Waals Fe3GeTe2},
author = {Kaixuan Zhang and Seungyun Han and Youjin Lee and Matthew J. Coak and Junghyun Kim and Inho Hwang and Suhan Son and Jeacheol Shin and Mijin Lim and Daegeun Jo and Kyoo Kim and Dohun Kim and Hyun-Woo Lee and Je-Geun Park},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2108.12111},
year = {2025}
}
Comments
Accepted by Advanced Materials; 61 pages, 4 main figures, 14 supporting figures