Understanding the non-collinear antiferromagnetic IrMn<sub>3</sub> surfaces and their exchange-biased heterostructures from first principles

ORAL

Abstract

We provide a complete and systematic first-principles study on the thermodynamic stability, structural parameters, and magnetic properties of the T1 non-collinear antiferromagnetic L12-IrMn3 surface and exchange-biased L12-IrMn3/Fe heterostructure. We find two stable surface and heterostructure terminations, which are in good agreement with experimental HR-TEM data. Using a comparative approach, we analyzed the exchange-bias properties in the heterostructure, discovering that the number of Mn-Fe interactions at the interface is related to exchange bias intensity. This finding could lead to novel exchange-bias tailoring by controlling the terminating layers. Finally, we describe the interface magnetic coupling atom-by-atom, finding a relationship between antiferromagnetic order near the interface, and heterostructure stability. Our analysis uncovers a possible mechanism for the appearance of exchange bias in non-collinear/collinear heterostructures. These results are in good agreement with hysteresis measurements of the IrMn3/Fe bilayer.

*We thank DGAPA-UNAM projects IN101019 and IA100920, and Conacyt grant A1-S-9070 for partial financial support. Calculations were performed in the DGCTIC-UNAM supercomputing center through projects LANCAD-UNAM-DGTIC-051 and LANCAD-UNAM-DGTIC-368.

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Presenters

  • Daniel Maldonado-Lopez

    • Center of Nanoscience and Nanotechology, National Autonomous University of Mexico

Authors

  • Daniel Maldonado-Lopez

    • Center of Nanoscience and Nanotechology, National Autonomous University of Mexico

  • Noboru Takeuchi

    • Centro de Nanociencias y Nanotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
    • Center of Nanoscience and Nanotechology, National Autonomous University of Mexico
    • National Autonomous University of Mexico Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology
    • Centro de Nanociencias y Nanotecnologia, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico
    • Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
    • National Autonomous University of Mexico

  • Jonathan Guerrero Sanchez

    • Centro de Nanociencias y Nanotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
    • Center of Nanoscience and Nanotechology, National Autonomous University of Mexico
    • National Autonomous University of Mexico Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology
    • Centro de Nanociencias y Nanotecnologia, UNAM
    • Centro de Nanociencias y Nanotecnologia, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico
    • Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
    • UNAM - CCMC
    • Center for Nanosciences and Nanotechnology National Autonomous University of Mexico