Sergio O. Valenzuela

The large variety of 2D materials and their co-integration in van der Waals heterostructures enable innovative device engineering. Their atomically thin and layered nature promotes the design of artificial quantum materials with atomically smooth interfaces and by means of proximity effects, which originate from short-range interactions [1]. This designer approach is compelling for spintronic devices, which typically harness their functionalities from thin layers of magnetic and non-magnetic materials and the interfaces between them [1,2]. In this talk, I will highlight recent advances in this rapidly evolving field. I will then introduce novel ways to investigate proximity phenomena using spin transport dynamics, as reflected in spin relaxation anisotropy [3] and charge to spin interconversion [4] experiments. I will further address the relevance of crystal symmetry and the emergence of unconventional charge to spin conversion components when crystal symmetries are broken [5]. Finally, I will discuss the role of material intermixing in the nature of the spin-orbit torques [6] and the inherent advantages of 2D van der Waals heterostructures to suppress intermixing and possibly enhance the torques [7].

[1] J. F. Sierra et al., Nature Nano. 16, 856-868 (2021)
[2] H. Yang, S O. Valenzuela et al., Nature 606, 663-673 (2022)
[3] L. A. Benítez et al., Nature Phys. 14, 303-308 (2018); APL Materials 7, 120701 (2019)
[4] L. A. Benítez et al., Nature Mater. 19, 170-175 (2020)
[5] L. Camosi et al., 2D Mater. 9, 035014 (2022)
[6] F. Bonell et al., Nano Lett. 20, 5893-5899 (2020)
[7] T. Guillet et al. (unpublished)