Probing Interfacial Magnetic Anisotropy in \texorpdfstring{CoV$_{2}$O$_{4}$}{CoV2O4} using Spin Hall Magnetoresistance

Abstract

Spin Hall magnetoresistance (SMR) has emerged as a powerful probe for investigating interfacial spin transport and magnetic anisotropy in complex oxide heterostructures. In this work, we investigate the interfacial magnetic anisotropy in Pt/CVO through angle-dependent magnetotransport measurements. Unlike the bulk-sensitive magnetic measurements on both strained CVO and Pt/CVO films, which exhibit a ferrimagnetic transition at $T_{C} \approx 150$ K accompanied by out-of-plane anisotropy that reorients toward in-plane anisotropy below 90 K, SMR reveals a distinct interfacial magnetic anisotropy. The rotational scans of the in-plane transverse SMR at 20 K exhibit substantial hysteresis about [100], while no hysteresis is observed along [110] and [1$\bar{1}$0], indicating a biaxial anisotropy with easy axes along [110] and [1$\bar{1}$0]. Furthermore, the absence of sharp discontinuities in both the in-plane longitudinal and transverse SMR, together with pronounced discontinuities near the in-plane [010] direction during out-of-plane rotation, strongly indicates the presence of in-plane anisotropy. This behavior persists up to 120 K. The discrepancy between the bulk-sensitive magnetic measurements and the SMR response suggests that the Pt/CVO interface retains a magnetic anisotropy distinct from the bulk, highlighting the interfacial sensitivity of SMR. Additionally, the spin mixing conductance is found to be of the order of $10^{14}$ $Ω^{-1}\mathrm{m}^{-2}$, comparable to other oxide-based spintronic systems. These findings highlight the crucial role of interfacial effects in spin transport and establish Pt/CVO as a promising platform for spintronic applications.