Manipulating the magnetic anisotropy of cobalt doped titanium dioxide by carrier accumulation

Based on first-principles calculations, we predict that the magnetic anisotropy energy (MAE) of Co-doped TiO$_2$ sensitively depends on carrier accumulation. This magnetoelectric phenomenon provides a promising route to directly manipulate the magnetization direction of diluted magnetic semiconductor by external electric-fields. We calculate the band structures and reveal the origin of carrier-dependent MAE in k-space. In fact, the carrier accumulation shifts the Fermi energy and regulates the competing contributions to MAE. The first-principles calculations provide a straightforward way to design spintronics materials with electrically controllable spin direction.

Ab initio study of magnetic anisotropy in cobalt doped zinc oxide with electron-filling

Based on first-principles calculation, it has been predicted that the magnetic anisotropy energy (MAE) in Co-doped ZnO (Co:ZnO) depends on electron-filling. Results show that the charge neutral Co:ZnO presents a easy plane magnetic state. While modifying the total number of electrons, the easy axis rotates from in-plane to out-of-plane. The alternation of the MAE is considered to be the change of the ground state of Co ion, resulting from the relocating of electrons on Co d-orbitals with electron-filling.