Gigantic Current Control of Coercive Field and Magnetic Memory Based on Nanometer‐Thin Ferromagnetic van der Waals Fe<sub>3</sub>GeTe<sub>2</sub>
Kaixuan Zhang, Seungyun Han, Youjin Lee, Matthew J. Coak, Jung‐Hyun Kim, Inho Hwang, Suhan Son, Jeacheol Shin, Mijin Lim, Daegeun Jo, Kyoo Kim, Dohun Kim, Hyun‐Woo Lee, Je‐Geun Park
Abstract
Abstract 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. Here, it is reported that, surprisingly, an in‐plane current can tune the magnetic state of the nanometer‐thin van der Waals ferromagnet Fe 3 GeTe 2 from a hard magnetic state to a soft magnetic state. It is a 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 Fe 3 GeTe 2 . In addition, a working model of a new nonvolatile magnetic memory based on the principle of the discovery in Fe 3 GeTe 2 , controlled by a tiny current, is further demonstrated. The findings open up a new window of exciting opportunities for magnetic van der Waals materials with potentially huge impact on the future development of spintronic and magnetic memory.