Spintronics Revolution: How Topological Materials Are Paving the Way

A schematic image of conversion phenomenon from charge current to spin current based on spin Hall effect in Co3Sn2S2 layer. Credit: Takeshi Seki et al.

Researchers highlight the potential of cobalt-tin-sulfur in spintronic devices, revealing its capability to reduce energy consumption and heralding a new era in electronics.

A team of researchers has made a significant breakthrough that could revolutionize next-generation electronics by enabling non-volatility, large-scale integration, low power consumption, high speed, and high reliability in spintronic devices.

Details of their findings were published recently in the journal Physical Review B.

The Promise of Spintronics

Spintronic devices, represented by magnetic random access memory (MRAM), utilize the magnetization direction of ferromagnetic materials for information storage and rely on spin current, a flow of spin angular momentum, for reading and writing data.

Conventional semiconductor electronics have faced limitations in achieving these qualities.

However, the emergence of three-terminal spintronic devices, which employ separate current paths for writing and reading information, presents a solution with reduced writing errors and increased writing speed. Nevertheless, the challenge of reducing energy consumption during information writing, specifically magnetization switching, remains a critical concern.

Spin Hall Effect and Cobalt-Tin-Sulfur

A promising method for mitigating energy consumption during information writing is the utilization of the spin Hall effect, where spin angular momentum (spin current) flows transversely to the electric current. The challenge lies in identifying materials that exhibit a significant spin Hall effect, a task that has been clouded by a lack of clear guidelines.

“We turned our attention to a unique compound known as cobalt-tin-sulfur (Co₃Sn₂S₂), which exhibits ferromagnetic properties at low temperatures below 177 K (-96 °C) and paramagnetic behavior at room temperature,” explains Yong-Chang Lau and Takeshi Seki, both from the Institute for Materials Research (IMR), Tohoku University and co-authors of the study. “Notably, Co₃Sn₂S₂ is classified as a topological material and exhibits a remarkable anomalous Hall effect when it transitions to a ferromagnetic state due to its distinctive electronic structure.”

Empirical Evidence and Future Implications

Lau, Seki, and colleagues employed theoretical calculations to explore the electronic states of both ferromagnetic and paramagnetic Co₃Sn₂S₂, revealing that electron-doping enhances the spin Hall effect. To validate this theoretical prediction, thin films of Co₃Sn₂S₂ partially substituted with nickel (Ni) and indium (In) were synthesized. These experiments demonstrated that Co₃Sn₂S₂ exhibited the most significant anomalous Hall effect, while (Co₂Ni)Sn₂S₂ displayed the most substantial spin Hall effect, aligning closely with the theoretical predictions.

“We uncovered the intricate correlation between the Hall effects, providing a clear path to discovering new spin Hall materials by leveraging existing literature as a guide,” adds Seki. “This will hopefully accelerate the development of ultralow-power-consumption spintronic devices, marking a pivotal step toward the future of electronics.”

Reference: “Intercorrelated anomalous Hall and spin Hall effect in kagome-lattice Co₃Sn₂S₂-based shandite films” by Yong-Chang Lau, Junya Ikeda, Kohei Fujiwara, Akihiro Ozawa, Jiaxin Zheng, Takeshi Seki, Kentaro Nomura, Liang Du, Quansheng Wu, Atsushi Tsukazaki and Koki Takanashi,25 August 2023, Physical Review B.
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevB.108.064429