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Ferroelectric and multiferroic tunnel junctions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 February 2012

E.Y. Tsymbal ,
A. Gruverman ,
V. Garcia ,
M. Bibes  and
A. Barthélémy
E.Y. Tsymbal
Affiliation:
University of Nebraska; tsymbal@unl.edu
A. Gruverman
Affiliation:
University of Nebraska; agruverman2@unl.edu
V. Garcia
Affiliation:
Unité Mixte de Physique CNRS/Thales, France; vincent.garcia@thalesgroup.com
M. Bibes
Affiliation:
Unité Mixte de Physique CNRS/Thales, France; manuel.bibes@thalesgroup.com
A. Barthélémy
Affiliation:
Unité Mixte de Physique CNRS/Thales, France; agnes.barthelemy@thalesgroup.com
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Abstract

The phenomenon of electron tunneling has been known since the advent of quantum mechanics, but continues to enrich our understanding of many fields of physics, as well as creating sub-fields on its own. Spin-dependent tunneling in magnetic tunnel junctions has aroused considerable interest and development. In parallel with this endeavor, recent advances in thin-film ferroelectrics have demonstrated the possibility of achieving stable and switchable ferroelectric polarization in nanometer-thick films. This discovery opened the possibility of using thin-film ferroelectrics as barriers in magnetic tunnel junctions, thus merging the fields of magnetism, ferroelectricity, and spin-polarized transport into an exciting and promising area of novel research. Nowadays, this research has become an important constituent of a broader effort in multiferroic materials and heterostructures that involves rich fundamental science and offers a potential for applications in novel multifunctional devices. The purpose of this article is to review recent developments in ferroelectric and multiferroic tunnel junctions. Starting from the concept of electron tunneling, we first discuss the key properties of magnetic tunnel junctions and then assess key functional characteristics of ferroelectric and multiferroic tunnel junctions. We discuss the recent demonstrations of giant resistive switching observed in ferroelectric tunnel junctions and the new concept of electrically controlling the spin polarization in magnetic tunnel junctions with a ferroelectric tunnel barrier.

Keywords

Ferroelectricelectrical propertiesmemoryspintronicsmagnetoresistance
Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Bulletin , Volume 37 , Issue 2: Resistive switching phenomena in thin films: Materials, devices, and applications , February 2012 , pp. 138 - 143
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2012

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