Probing the Electrical Behavior of Magnetic Nanostructures

R. D. Domingosa and F. Bérona

a
1 - Institute of Physics “Gleb Wataghin”, University of Campinas, 13083-859 Campinas, SP, Brazil.
E-mail: renandd@ifi.unicamp.br
 1. Introduction the nanostructures. The initial electrical
characterization of
Research on
2. Measurement nanostructures and
nanostructures or devices is obtained
nanostructured systems
setup
through the temperature
has gained a lot of The system low evolution of the
attention because of the dimensionality produces electrical resistance.
property modifications emerging effects of From this curve, it is
these systems present interest for future possible to obtain
with reduced magnetic applications crucial information
dimensions. Devices (MRAM), magnetic about the nanostructure
dimension reduction is field-switched type of material:
interesting from the transistors (MagFet), semiconductor, metal, or
point of view of spin-valves and insulator, in addition to Fig. 1. Resistance
technological spintronic-based the predominant function of temperature for
applications, since it is transistors, for example. electrical conduction an isolated nickel
possible to obtain a high The size reduction of mechanism in the nanowire (40 nm
speed in data processing these structures leads to system. These diameter).
in the case of memories different effects from information provide
and processors[1], or for those observed in bulk support for the
the construction of structures, but these 4. AC electrical
realization of the
sensors with low effects can be of orders measurements
following electrical
consumption and high of magnitude lower in and/or magnetic Electrical
sensitivity, such as for intensity. Therefore, for characterization that are measurements in
use in IoT[2]. data acquisition, it is required. nanostructures have
This instrumentation necessary to construct a Since the resistivity several sources of noise.
work was developed system with great variation is relatively Even in low temperature
with the purpose of accuracy and large in this type of measurements, the
performing high reproducibility in the measurements, a DC electrical contact
sensitivity measurements. measurement can be between the electrodes
measurements for the We build a home- performed. In this case, and the nanostructure
magnetoelectric made setup that can be the setup for DC may not maintain
characterization of integrated with a PPMS measurements simply optimal quality (even
isolated nanostructures platform (Physical consist of a digital with ohmic contact) due
produced in our Properties Measurement multimeter Keithley to the thermal
laboratory (Materials System), from Quantum 2400. It is used both as a contraction of the
and Low Temperature Design, to vary the current source and as system [5].
Laboratory (LMBT - sample temperature voltage readout. Even in
IFGW)). One of the (down to 2 K) and apply A typical example of measurements using 4-
research focus of the an external magnetic the resistivity curve as a wires, noise has
laboratory is the study field (up to 9 T). function of temperature undesirable effects on
and development of new LabView was used to for an isolated nickel the measurements, such
devices based on perform the nanowire is shown in as oscillations in the
magnetic communication among Fig. 1. The nanowire, of measured value. With
nanostructures, the equipments. 40 nm in diameter and 4 the use of an alternating
nanowires, Both DC and AC m in length, as been current, instead of a
nanoparticles and electrical measurements constant one, it is
positioned between the
nanowires. Therefore, were achieved. Each possible to eliminate
electrodes by using the
we have extensive technique has most of the external
dielectrophoresis
experience in the advantages and noise as well as part of
method [3,4]. A thermal
synthesis of complex disadvantages, as will the white noise, (1/f,
treatment through Joule
magnetic be shown in the inverse of frequency).
effect was required to
nanostructures. Both following examples. The AC
obtain a ohmic contact.
electrical and measurement setup is
The nanowire exhibits a
magnetotransport based on a function
typical metallic
behavior investigations generator that applies a
behavior.
are key information to voltage on a variable
understand the 3. DC electrical resistor. This resistor is
phenomena occurring in connected in series with
measurements
the sample, and serves
as an adjustable AC
current source to be
injected into the sample.
The voltage across the
sample is measured
using a Princeton
Research 5210 lock-in.
With this AC setup,
it is possible to obtain a
better resolution in the
resistance value
measured, compared to
the DC setup. The AC
system performs a related to the integration
coupling between the Fig. 2. Magnetoresistance
frequency and phase of of a Co-C nanoribbon
the signal input giving produced by FEBID, after
by the function a thermal treatment at
generator, so 300°C.
undesirable signals in
The resistance peaks
the measurements will may arise from these
be damped by the lock- nanogranular
in electronics, with the characteristics, where
use of band-pass filters. different paths of
In this way, it is current percolation
possible to detect signal
occur during the
variations of lower
measurement. A key
intensity, such as in
feature was to achieve
magnetoresistance the resolution required
curves, where the to detect the small
resistivity variation for variations in the
nanostructures is about resistance value during
3-10% of the resistance the measurement as a
value in the absence of function of the applied
applied magnetic field magnetic field.
[5]. An example of a
magnetoresistance
measurement is shown
5. Conclusions
in Fig. 2. The sample
was a Co-C nanoribbon The entire
fabricated by focused- magnetoelectric
electron-beam induced characterization process
deposition (FEBID), a can be performed on
deposition technique nanostructures produced
yielding granular in the LMBT laboratory
complex materials [6].
and the information
obtained are assisting in
the development of new
nanostructures for future
applications.
Electrical
measurements can be
made using the DC or
AC setup. The DC
system allows a manipulation of individual
characterization at
higher speed and with
excellent results.
However, samples Vacuum Science &
measured in DC mode Technology B, 33, 3,
are more susceptible to 031804, 2015,
10.1116/1.4918732.
external noises, which
[4] M. V. P. Dos Santos, M.
can be reduced with the Velo, R. D. Domingos, J.
use of the AC system, Bettini, F. Béron, K. R.
when needed. In this Pirota and J. A. Diniz.
case, the coupling “Electrodeposited nickel
between the frequency nanowires for magnetic-
and the phase reduces field effect transistor
these external noises (MagFET)”, JICS. Journal
during the of Integrated Circuits and
Systems (Ed. Português),
measurements. The data
2016.
acquisition time is [5] J. E.Wegrowe, D.
Kelly, A. Franck, S. E.
time used in the lock-in, Gilbert and J. P. Ansermet,
which varies according “Magnetoresistance of
to the measurement ferromagnetic nanowires”
sensitivity. Physical Review Letters, ,
1999,82(18), 3681–3684.
[6] M. V. P. dos Santos, M.
Acknowledgments F. Velo, R. D. Domingos,
Y. Z., X. Maeder, C.
We acknowledge the Guerra-Nuñez, J. P. Best,
CCS-Nano facilities, F. Béron, K. R. Pirota, S.
from the University of Moshkalev, J. A. Diniz,
Campinas, for the and I. Utke, “Annealing-
equipment and Based Electrical Tuning of
Cobalt–Carbon Deposits
resources used during
Grown by Focused-
this work. We also thank Electron-Beam-Induced
CAPES and FAPESP for Deposition” ACS Applied
financial support to the Materials & Interfaces,
project. 2016, 8 (47), 32496-32503.
DOI:
10.1021/acsami.6b12192.
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