Tunneling magnetoresistance and electroresistance in Fe/PbTiO{sub 3}/Fe multiferroic tunnel junctions

Journal Article · Sun Aug 21 04:00:00 EDT 2016 · Journal of Applied Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4960695· OSTI ID:22598901

Dai, Jian-Qing ^[1]

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1. School of Materials Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650093 (China)

We perform first-principles electronic structure and spin-dependent transport calculations for a Fe/PbTiO{sub 3}/Fe multiferroic tunnel junction with asymmetric TiO{sub 2}- and PbO-terminated interfaces. We demonstrate that the interfacial electronic reconstruction driven by the in situ screening of ferroelectric polarization, in conjunction with the intricate complex band structure of barrier, play a decisive role in controlling the spin-dependent tunneling. Reversal of ferroelectric polarization results in a transition from insulating to half-metal-like conducting state for the interfacial Pb 6p{sub z} orbitals, which acts as an atomic-scale spin-valve by releasing the tunneling current in antiparallel magnetization configuration as the ferroelectric polarization pointing to the PbO-terminated interface. This effect produces large change in tunneling conductance. Our results open an attractive avenue in designing multiferroic tunnel junctions with excellent performance by exploiting the interfacial electronic reconstruction originated from the in situ screening of ferroelectric polarization.

• OSTI ID: 22598901
• Journal Information: Journal of Applied Physics, Journal Name: Journal of Applied Physics Journal Issue: 7 Vol. 120; ISSN JAPIAU; ISSN 0021-8979
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
ASYMMETRY
ELECTRONIC STRUCTURE
FERROELECTRIC MATERIALS
INTERFACES
LEAD OXIDES
MAGNETIZATION
MAGNETORESISTANCE
METALS
POLARIZATION
SCREENING
SPIN
TITANATES
TITANIUM OXIDES
TUNNEL EFFECT
TUNNEL JUNCTIONS
VALVES