Phase Selection in Mn–Si Alloys by Fast Solid-State Reaction with Enhanced Skyrmion Stability

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Zichao Li - , Chair of Metallic Materials and Metal Physics, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • Yufang Xie - , Chair of Semiconductor Spectroscopy, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • Ye Yuan - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Songshan Lake Materials Laboratory (Author)
  • Yanda Ji - , Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics (Author)
  • Viktor Begeza - , Chair of Semiconductor Spectroscopy, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • Lei Cao - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (Author)
  • René Hübner - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (Author)
  • Lars Rebohle - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (Author)
  • Manfred Helm - , Chair of Semiconductor Spectroscopy, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • Kornelius Nielsch - , Institute of Applied Physics, Chair of Metallic Materials and Metal Physics, TUD Dresden University of Technology, Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)
  • Slawomir Prucnal - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (Author)
  • Shengqiang Zhou - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (Author)

Abstract

B20-type transition-metal silicides or germanides are noncentrosymmetric materials hosting magnetic skyrmions, which are promising information carriers in spintronic devices. The prerequisite is to prepare thin films on technology-relevant substrates with magnetic skyrmions stabilized at a broad temperature and magnetic-field working window. A canonical example is the B20-MnSi film grown on Si substrates. However, the as-yet unavoidable contamination with MnSi1.7 occurs due to the lower nucleation temperature of this phase. In this work, a simple and efficient method to overcome this problem and prepare single-phase MnSi films on Si substrates is reported. It is based on the millisecond reaction between metallic Mn and Si using flash-lamp annealing (FLA). By controlling the FLA energy density, single-phase MnSi or MnSi1.7 or their mixture can be grown at will. Compared with bulk MnSi, the prepared MnSi films show an increased Curie temperature of up to 41 K. In particular, the magnetic skyrmions are stable over a much wider temperature and magnetic-field range than reported previously. The results constitute a novel phase selection approach for alloys and can help to enhance specific functional properties, such as the stability of magnetic skyrmions.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number2009723
JournalAdvanced functional materials
Volume31
Issue number15
Publication statusPublished - 8 Apr 2021
Peer-reviewedYes

Keywords

Keywords

  • B20-MnSi, flash-lamp annealing, phase separation, skyrmions