Shubhransu Sahoo | Searcharxiv

arXiv2026

Interface-resolved structural properties of epitaxial Y$_3$Fe$_5$O$_{12}$/ Gd$_3$Fe$_5$O$_{12}$ bilayers grown on GGG(111) by pulsed laser deposition

Epitaxial Y$_3$Fe$_5$O$_{12}$ (YIG) and Gd$_3$Fe$_5$O$_{12}$ (GdIG) thin films, along with their bilayer heterostructures, were grown on Gd$_3$Ga$_5$O$_{12}$(GGG)(111) substrates using pulsed laser deposition. Structural properties were investigated using X-ray diffraction, reciprocal space mapping, and cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy. The results confirm high crystalline quality and coherent epitaxial growth, with RSM revealing a coexistence of strained and partially relaxed regions governed by layer sequence. TEM analysis shows sharp interfaces, columnar microstructures, and antiphase boundaries that facilitate strain relaxation. A comparative study indicates that the GGG/YIG/GdIG stacking sequence exhibits improved structural quality with reduced defect density, attributed to the superior epitaxial growth of YIG on the substrate. These findings highlight the critical role of growth sequence in controlling strain and interfacial structure in garnet heterostructures.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2025

Enhancement of spin Hall angle by an order of magnitude via Cu intercalation in MoS$_2$/CoFeB heterostructures

Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) are a novel class of quantum materials with significant potential in spintronics, optoelectronics, valleytronics, and opto-valleytronics. TMDs exhibit strong spin-orbit coupling, enabling efficient spin-charge interconversion, which makes them ideal candidates for spin-orbit torque-driven spintronic devices. In this study, we investigated the spin-to-charge conversion through ferromagnetic resonance in MoS$_2$/Cu/CoFeB heterostructures with varying Cu spacer thicknesses. The conversion efficiency, quantified by the spin Hall angle, was enhanced by an order of magnitude due to Cu intercalation. Magneto-optic Kerr effect microscopy confirmed that Cu did not significantly modify the magnetic domains, indicating its effectiveness in decoupling MoS$_2$ from CoFeB. This decoupling preserves the spin-orbit coupling (SOC) of MoS$_2$ by mitigating the exchange interaction with CoFeB, as proximity to localized magnetization can alter the electronic structure and SOC. First-principles calculations revealed that Cu intercalation notably enhances the spin Berry curvature and spin Hall conductivity, contributing to the increased spin Hall angle. This study demonstrates that interface engineering of ferromagnet/TMD-based heterostructures can achieve higher spin-to-charge conversion efficiencies, paving the way for advancements in spintronic applications.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗