Combinatorial investigation of spin-orbit materials using spin Peltier effect

Abstract Conversion between spin and charge currents is essential in spintronics, since it enables spin-orbit-torque magnetization switching, spin-current-driven thermoelectric generation, and nano-scale thermal energy control. To realize efficient spin-charge conversion, a variety of mechanisms, in...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Ken-ichi Uchida, Michiko Sasaki, Yuya Sakuraba, Ryo Iguchi, Shunsuke Daimon, Eiji Saitoh, Masahiro Goto
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Publishing Group 2018-10-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-34493-6
Description
Summary:Abstract Conversion between spin and charge currents is essential in spintronics, since it enables spin-orbit-torque magnetization switching, spin-current-driven thermoelectric generation, and nano-scale thermal energy control. To realize efficient spin-charge conversion, a variety of mechanisms, including spin Hall effects, Rashba-Edelstein effects, and spin-momentum locking in topological insulators, have been investigated and more comprehensive material exploration is necessary. Here we demonstrate high-throughput screening of spin-charge conversion materials by means of the spin Peltier effect (SPE). This is enabled by combining recently-developed SPE-imaging techniques with combinatorial materials science; using a composition-spread alloy film formed on a magnetic insulator, we observe the SPE-induced temperature change due to the spin Hall effect and obtain a continuous mapping of its composition dependence from the single sample. The distribution of the SPE signals reflects local spin-charge conversion capability in the alloy owing to unique heat-generation nature of the SPE. This combinatorial approach will accelerate materials research towards high-performance spintronic devices.
ISSN:2045-2322