Enhancing Perpendicular Magnetic Anisotropy in Garnet Ferrimagnet by Interfacing with Few-Layer WTe2

Engineering magnetic anisotropy in a ferro- or ferrimagnetic (FM) thin film is crucial in a spintronic device. One way to modify the magnetic anisotropy is through the surface of the FM thin film. Here, we report the emergence of a perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) induced by interfacial interactions in a heterostructure comprised of a garnet ferrimagnet, Y3Fe5O12 (YIG), and a low-symmetry, high spin-orbit coupling (SOC) transition metal dichalcogenide, WTe2. At the same time, we also observed an enhancement in Gilbert damping in the WTe2-covered YIG area. Both the magnitude of interface-induced PMA and the Gilbert damping enhancement have no observable WTe2 thickness dependence down to a single quadruple layer, indicating that the interfacial interaction plays a critical role. The ability of WTe2 to enhance the PMA in FM thin film, combined with its previously reported capability to generate out-of-plane damping like spin torque, makes it desirable for magnetic memory applications.

Automated summary

In this study, we report the emergence of perpendicular magnetic anisotropy and enhanced Gilbert damping induced by interfacial interactions in a heterostructure made of YIG and WTe2. The ability of WTe2 to enhance PMA in FM thin film, combined with its capability to generate out-of-plane damping like spin torque, makes it desirable for magnetic memory applications.