A perpendicular graphene/ferromagnet electrode for spintronics

Abstract

We report on the large-scale integration of graphene layers over a FePd perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) platform, targeting further downscaling of spin circuits. An L10 FePd ordered alloy showing both high magneto-crystalline anisotropy and a low magnetic damping constant, is deposited by magnetron sputtering. The graphene layer is then grown on top of it by large-scale chemical vapor deposition. A step-by-step study, including structural and magnetic analyses by x-ray diffraction and Kerr microscopy, shows that the measured FePd properties are preserved after the graphene deposition process. This scheme provides a graphene protected perpendicular spin electrode showing resistance to oxidation, atomic flatness, stable crystallinity, and perpendicular magnetic properties. This, in turn, opens the way to the generalization of hybrid 2D-materials on optimized PMA platforms, sustaining the development of spintronics circuits based on perpendicular spin-sources as required, for instance, for perpendicular-magnetic random-access memory schemes.