Co-Ni Atomic Layer Magnetic Material for Low-Temperature Anisotropy
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The manufacturing of hard magnetic materials is hindered by the need for high substrate and heat treatment temperatures, chemical inertness of noble metals, and high costs and scarcity of rare-earth metals, which complicates processing and material stability.
Innovation Solution
A magnetic material with a structure of alternately stacked Co and Ni layers, formed at room temperature using deposition methods, exhibiting six-fold symmetry and high reactivity, allowing for easy patterning and cost-effective production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If high substrate temperature and high heat treatment temperature are used to achieve high perpendicular magnetic anisotropy in hard magnetic materials, then magnetic anisotropy is improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase due to temperature constraints on other devices and substrate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite layered structure of Co and Ni atomic layers, where the combination of these two materials produces perpendicular magnetic anisotropy at lower temperatures than conventional hard magnetic materials. The interface between Co and Ni layers creates the necessary magnetic anisotropy without requiring high heat treatment temperatures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental parameters of the magnetic material system by using alternating Co and Ni atomic layers with specific thicknesses (Co: 0.3-0.6 nm, Ni: 0.3-0.6 nm). This parameter change enables the material to achieve high perpendicular magnetic anisotropy at substrate temperatures of 300°C or lower, avoiding the high temperature requirements of conventional materials.
2Strength
If noble metals like Pt, Pd, or Au are used to achieve high magnetic anisotropy, then magnetic performance is improved, but chemical reactivity decreases making reactive ion etching difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive noble metals (Pt, Pd, Au) with more reactive and abundant transition metals (Co and Ni). These materials are etched more easily by reactive ion etching and can be processed at lower costs, while still achieving the required magnetic anisotropy through their layered atomic structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material composition from noble metals to transition metals (Co and Ni), which have different chemical reactivity properties. This parameter change enables effective reactive ion etching while maintaining high magnetic anisotropy through the specific atomic layer structure and six-fold symmetry arrangement.
3Strength
If rare-earth metals like Nd, Dy, Sm, Tb, or Gd are used to achieve high magnetic anisotropy, then magnetic performance is improved, but raw material cost increases and supply becomes uncertain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces scarce and expensive rare-earth metals with abundant transition metals (Co and Ni). These materials are readily available, cost-effective, and can be processed using standard semiconductor manufacturing techniques, eliminating supply chain concerns associated with rare-earth metals.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite structure using Co and Ni atomic layers that collectively provide the necessary magnetic anisotropy without requiring rare-earth elements. The synergistic interaction at the Co-Ni interfaces generates the required magnetic properties from abundant materials.
4Stability of the object's composition
If conventional hard magnetic materials are used to hold information stably, then information storage stability is improved, but processing by reactive ion etching becomes difficult due to low chemical reactivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material composition from conventional hard magnetic materials with low reactivity to Co-Ni layered structures with higher chemical reactivity. This enables effective reactive ion etching for patterning while the perpendicular magnetic anisotropy in the layered structure ensures stable information storage through high magnetic anisotropy energy.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Facilitates the production of hard magnetic materials with high magnetic anisotropy at lower temperatures, maintains material characteristics, and reduces raw material costs by using abundant transition metals like Co and Ni.
Implementation Method 1
formed by deposition with one of a sputtering method, a vacuum deposition method, a molecular beam epitaxy method, a laser ablation method, and an ion plating method
Data Source
AI summary
A magnetic material includes a structure in which a first magnetic layer 1 and a second magnetic layer 2 are stacked such that each layer is formed at least partially in a stacking direction by substantially one atomic layer. The first magnetic layer contains Co as a principal component. The second magnetic layer includes at least Ni. The magnetic material has magnetic anisotropy in the stacking direction. Preferably, an atomic arrangement within a film surface of the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer has six-fold symmetry.