Negative Spin Polarization and Large Tunneling Magnetoresistance in Epitaxial Co|SrTiO3|Co Magnetic Tunnel Junctions

J. P. Velev, K. D. Belashchenko, D. A. Stewart, M. van Schilfgaarde, S. S. Jaswal, and E. Y. Tsymbal
Phys. Rev. Lett. 95, 216601 – Published 15 November 2005

Abstract

We perform an ab initio study of spin-polarized tunneling in epitaxial Co|SrTiO3|Co magnetic tunnel junctions with bcc Co(001) electrodes. We predict a large tunneling magnetoresistance in these junctions, originating from a mismatch in the majority- and minority-spin bands both in bulk bcc Co and at the Co|SrTiO3 interface. The intricate complex band structure of SrTiO3 enables efficient tunneling of the minority d electrons which causes the spin polarization of the Co|SrTiO3 interface to be negative in agreement with experimental data. Our results indicate that epitaxial Co|SrTiO3|Co magnetic tunnel junctions with bcc Co(001) electrodes are a viable alternative for device applications.

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  • Received 24 August 2005

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.95.216601

©2005 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

J. P. Velev1, K. D. Belashchenko1, D. A. Stewart2, M. van Schilfgaarde3, S. S. Jaswal1, and E. Y. Tsymbal1

  • 1Department of Physics and Astronomy and Center for Materials Research and Analysis, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588, USA
  • 2Cornell Nanoscale Science and Technology Facility, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA
  • 3Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, USA

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Issue

Vol. 95, Iss. 21 — 18 November 2005

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