Almeida, TP, McGrouther, D, Temple, R et al. (5 more authors) (2020) Direct visualization of the magnetostructural phase transition in nanoscale FeRh thin films using differential phase contrast imaging. Physical Review Materials, 4 (3). 034410. ISSN 2475-9953
Abstract
To advance the use of thermally activated magnetic materials in device applications it is necessary to examine their behavior on the localized scale operando conditions. Equiatomic FeRh undergoes a magnetostructural transition from an antiferromagnetic (AF) to a ferromagnetic (FM) phase above room temperature (∼350–380 K), and hence is considered a very desirable material for the next generation of nanomagnetic or spintronic devices. For this to be realized, we must fully understand the intricate details of the AF to FM transition and associated FM domain growth on the scale of their operation. Here we combine in situ heating with a comprehensive suite of advanced transmission electron microscopy techniques to investigate directly the magnetostructural transition in nanoscale FeRh thin films. Differential phase contrast imaging visualizes the stages of FM domain growth in both cross-sectional and planar FeRh thin films as a function of temperature. Small surface FM signals are also detected due to interfacial strain with the MgO substrate and Fe deficiency after HF etching of the substrate, providing a directional bias for FM domain growth. Our work provides high resolution imaging and quantitative measurements throughout the transition, which were previously inaccessible, and offers fundamental insight into their potential use in magnetic devices.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2020 American Physical Society. This is an author produced version of an article published in Physical Review Materials. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. |
Keywords: | cond-mat.mtrl-sci; cond-mat.mtrl-sci |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Engineering & Physical Sciences (Leeds) > School of Physics and Astronomy (Leeds) > Condensed Matter (Leeds) |
Funding Information: | Funder Grant number EPSRC (Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council) EP/M018504/1 |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 17 Apr 2020 14:53 |
Last Modified: | 17 Apr 2020 15:26 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | American Physical Society |
Identification Number: | 10.1103/PhysRevMaterials.4.034410 |
Related URLs: | |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:159584 |