Ultra-thin film of magnetite optimized for spintronics

From practical applications such as secure communications to complex scientific questions such as how the brain works, classical computing isn’t always up to the task. Now, researchers from Japan have a made a discovery that will improve the electronics technology for such advanced applications.

In a study recently published in ACS Applied Nano Materials, researchers from Osaka University and collaborating partners have prepared an ultra-thin film of magnetite that until now had not been sufficiently ordered to achieve its full potential.

Spintronics is an advanced version of electronics that uses both charge and electron spin for energy transfer and storage. Magnetite—a common iron-oxide mineral—may be useful for spintronics technology owing to its fascinating physical properties. For example, a minor stimulus may rapidly change the functionality of the magnetite film from that of a metal to an insulator. Such functionalities critically depend on the crystallinity of magnetite. Especially for ultra-thin films used in device applications, it is difficult to fabricate magnetite with high crystallinity owing to the imperfection of the substrate surface, which is the foundation of the thin film. However, it is difficult to prepare an atomically ordered and extremely flat surface over an entire substrate. Overcoming this challenge by improving on conventional chemical polishing techniques is something the researchers at Osaka University aimed to address.

“The uniformity and properties of thin films depend on the perfection of the underlying substrate,” explains lead author of the study Ai Osaka. “Conventional technologies for preparing the single-crystal substrates sacrifice the crystallinity to optimize the flatness but doing so limits the performance of the overlaying magnetite film.”

The researchers used a chemical polishing technique—known by its acronym CARE—to prepare an atomically flat and highly ordered magnesium oxide substrate. Magnetite deposited on this ultrasmooth substrate exhibits superior crystallinity and conductive properties, compared with that deposited on a conventional substrate.

“CARE treatment of the substrate enabled the thin film to undergo a temperature-dependent resistivity change—known as the Verwey transition—of a factor of 5.9,” says senior author Azusa Hattori. “This is unprecedented over large areas, yet essential for implementation.”

These results have important applications. Proposed quantum computing technologies may rely on spintronics to optimize logistical, biochemical, and cryptography problems that defeat classical computing. The Osaka University researchers have made an important step toward enabling magnetite to serve as a base material for spintronics and other advanced electronics, which will transform life and work in the coming decades.