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DOE OSTI2021

A perspective on two-dimensional van der Waals opto-spin-caloritronics

Two-dimensional (2D) van der Waals magnetic semiconductors displaying controllable ferromagnetism at room temperature form atomically sharp interfaces with various substrates. Such heterostructures create platforms for understanding spin-dependent phenomena across interfaces and surfaces for high-performance technological applications. Combining these 2D magnets with light and the spin Seebeck effect (SSE) in-state-of-the-art thermo-opto-spin studies forms a new paradigm in the field of spin-caloritronics that harnesses light as the new heat. In this Perspective, we detail how to exploit recent advances in 2D van der Waals materials to boost the SSE and propose a new strategy for optically controlled SSE in 2D magnetic semiconductor-based heterostructures with the intent to establish the research thrust of “opto-spin-caloritronics.”

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

DOE OSTI2025

Selected magnetoelectrical phonon stiffening in Cr 2 ⁢O 3

A thorough understanding of lattice dynamics, particularly how they couple with spin through spin-phonon interactions, is crucial for pioneering new spin-caloritronic applications. Here, despite extensive studies on Cr 2 ⁢O 3 , the origin of nonlinear thermal expansions and the unusual stiffening of optical phonon modes is still elusive. Through inelastic neutron scattering and atomistic calculations, we found that these behaviors can be attributed to the renormalization of electron states owing to the magnetic transition, and we ruled out the effects from thermal expansion, phonon anharmonicity, magnetostriction, or electron-phonon interactions. Importantly, our quantitative modeling suggests that the common belief that dynamic spin-phonon interactions are the origin of anomalous phonon energy stiffening in magnetic compounds does not apply in Cr 2 ⁢O 3 .

DFT+U↗

DOE OSTI2021

Interfacial thermal transport in spin caloritronic material systems

Interfaces often govern the thermal performance of nanoscale devices and nanostructured materials. As a result, accurate knowledge of thermal interface conductance is necessary to model the temperature response of nanoscale devices or nanostructured materials to heating. Here, we report the thermal boundary conductance between metals and insulators that are commonly used in spin-caloritronic experiments. We use time-domain thermoreflectance to measure the interface conductance between metals such as Au, Pt, Ta, Cu, and Al with garnet and oxide substrates, e.g., NiO, yttrium iron garnet (YIG), thulium iron garnet (TmIG), Cr 2 O 3 , and sapphire. We find that, at room temperature, the interface conductance in these types of material systems range from 50 to 300 MW m –2 K –1 . Furthermore, we also measure the interface conductance between Pt and YIG at temperatures between 80 and 350 K. At room temperature, the interface conductance of Pt/YIG is 170 MW m –2 K –1 and the Kapitza length is ~40 nm. A Kapitza length of 40 nm means that, in the presence of a steady-state heat current, the temperature drop at the Pt/YIG interface is equal to the temperature drop across a 40-nm-thick layer of YIG. At 80 K, the interface conductance of Pt/YIG is 60 MW m –2 K –1 , corresponding to a Kapitza length of ~300 nm.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2022

Exchange bias and interface-related effects in two-dimensional van der Waals magnetic heterostructures: Open questions and perspectives

The exchange bias (EB) effect is known as a fundamentally and technologically important magnetic property of a magnetic bilayer film. It is manifested as a horizontal shift in a magnetic hysteresis loop of a film subject to cooling in the presence of a magnetic field. The EB effect in van der Waals (vdW) heterostructures offers a novel approach for tuning the magnetic properties of the newly discovered single-layer magnets, as well as adds a new impetus to magnetic vdW heterostructures. Indeed, intriguing EB effects have recently been reported in a variety of low-dimensional vdW magnetic systems ranging from a weakly interlayer-coupled vdW magnet (e.g., Fe 3 GeTe 2 ) to a bilayer composed of two different magnetic vdW materials (e.g., Fe 3 GeTe 2 /CrCl 3 , Fe 3 GeTe 2 /FePS 3 , Fe 3 GeTe 2 /MnPS 3 , Fe 3 GeTe 2 /CrSe, Fe 3 GeTe 2 /CrOCl, Fe 3 GeTe 2 /CoPc, Fe 5 GeTe 2 /FePS 3 ), to bilayers of two different vdW defective magnets (e.g., VSe 2 /MoS 2 ), or to metallic ferromagnet/vdW defective magnet interfaces (e.g., Fe/MoS 2 ). Despite their huge potential in spintronic device applications, the physical origins of the observed EB effects have remained elusive to researchers. Here, we present here a critical review of the EB effect and associated phenomena such as magnetic proximity (MP) in various vdW heterostructure systems and propose approaches to addressing some of the emerging fundamental questions.

2D magnets↗

DOE OSTI2021

Understanding and design of spin-driven thermoelectrics

While progress in thermoelectric materials based on the engineering of electronic and phononic characteristics is reaching a plateau, the addition of the spin degree of freedom has the potential to open a new landscape for alternative thermoelectric materials. Here, we present the concepts, current understanding, and guidelines for designing spin-driven thermoelectrics. We show that the interplay between the spin and heat currents in entropy transport via charge carriers can offer a path to enhance the electronic thermopower. The classical antiferromagnetic semiconductor manganese telluride (MnTe) is chosen as the case study due to its significant spin-mediated thermoelectric properties. We show that, although the spin-disorder scattering reduces the carrier mobility in magnetic materials, spin entropy, magnon, and paramagnon carrier drags can dominate and significantly enhance the thermoelectric power factor, and hence zT. Finally, several guidelines are drawn based on the current understanding for designing high-performance spin-driven thermoelectric materials.

42 ENGINEERING↗