Strong Enhancement of Spin-Orbit Torques and Perpendicular Magnetic Anisotropy in [Pt0.75Ti0.25/Co-Ni multilayer/Ta]n Superlattices

Abstract

We report the development of the [Pt0.75Ti0.25/Co-Ni multilayer/Ta]n superlattice with strong spin-orbit torque, large perpendicular magnetic anisotropy, and low switching current density. We demonstrate that the efficiency of the spin-orbit torque increases linearly with the repetition number n, which is in good agreement with the spin Hall effect of the Pt0.75Ti0.25 being the only source of the spin-orbit torque. Meanwhile, the perpendicular magnetic anisotropy field is also enhanced by more than a factor of 2 as n increases from 1 to 6. The [Pt0.75Ti0.25/(Co/Ni)3/Ta]n superlattice also exhibits deterministic, low-current-density magnetization switching despite the very large layer thicknesses. The combination of the strong spin-orbit torque, perpendicular magnetic anisotropy, and low-current-density switching makes the [Pt0.75Ti0.25/Co-Ni multilayer/Ta]n superlattice a compelling material candidate for ultrafast, energy-efficient, long-data-retention spintronic technologies.