Large Perpendicular Magnetocrystalline Anisotropy at the Fe/Pb(001) Interface

Abstract

The search for ultrathin magnetic films with large perpendicular magnetocrystalline anisotropy (PMA) has been inspired for years by the continuous miniaturization of magnetic units in spintronics devices. The common magnetic materials used in research and applications are based on Fe because the pure Fe metal is the best yet simple magnetic material from nature. Through systematic first-principles calculations, we explored the possibility to produce large PMA with ultrathin Fe on non-noble and non-magnetic Pb(001) substrate. Interestingly, huge magnetocrystalline anisotropy energy (MAE) of 7.6 meV was found in the Pb/Fe/Pb(001) sandwich structure with only half monolayer Fe. The analysis of electronic structures reveals that the magnetic proximity effect at the interface is responsible for this significant enhancement of MAE. The MAE further increases to 13.6 meV with triply repeated capping Pb and intermediate Fe layers. Furthermore, the MAE can be tuned conveniently by charge injection