- Research project
Exploration of new materials for reducing writing current of SOT-MRAM cells
- Project supervisor
Dr. Sebastien Couet
- Recruitment date
- 15/09/2021
Kaiquan Fan
Hello, my name is Kaiquan Fan and I am from China.
After finishing my master degree in materials science and engineering at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen) focusing on magnetism and spintronics, I decided to join the SPEAR to carry out my Ph.D. study. In my free time, I enjoy sports, listening to music and travelling with my friends.
With two years of research experience in lab, I realized that it was important to convert laboratorial outcomes to industrial applications. My Ph.D. research topic is about SOT-MRAM cells which will contribute to the fundamental understanding of the SOT physics principle and enable the practical realization of SOT-MRAM. SPEAR program provides state-of-the-art training for early-stage researchers in the field of fundamental and applied Spin Orbitronics. Moreover, it combines partners from industries, universities and research centers, offering an interdisciplinary environment for researchers to communicate with each other. It will be a wonderful experience to conduct my research in academic and industrial background. As for my career, since the magnetic devices like MRAM have huge application potential, I plan to join a company and work as an engineer for magnetic devices development to practice what I learn.
Project Description
SOT-MRAM is an emergent class of MRAM which is promising for embedded low-level cache applications with extremely fast operation (sub-ns) and low power [1,2]. To enable SOT-MRAM as competitive technology, increasing the writing efficiency is of uttermost importance. An ambitious target would be to reduce by at least one order of magnitude the current density that is achieved with standard heavy metals (W, Ta, Pt). Topological insulators (TIs) show excellent SOT. 2D materials, such as transition metal dichalcogenide (TMDs), have large spin-orbit coupling (SOC) and can be used to functionalize MRAM properties. However, interfacing those new materials with MRAM stacks, and understanding their fundamental properties, is a challenge.
In this PhD, you will:
- Develop methods to characterize and optimize simplified and full-MTJ stacks deposited on emerging materials such as TIs and/or TMDs.
- Perform extensive device characterization both on lab-based electrical setups as well as industrial probers.
- Generate an in-depth understanding of the complex interplay between spin transport, magnetization dynamics, material properties, and geometry associated with these devices.
By performing this PhD at Imec, you will have the opportunities to contribute both to the fundamental understanding of the SOT physics as well as to enable the practical realization of SOT-MRAM using state-of-the-art industrial fabrication methods on 300mm wafers.
[1] K. Garello et al. IEEE Symposium on VLSI Circuit 81-82 (2018)
[2] Mohit et al. IEDM (2020)
Host institution
Imec is a world-leading research and innovation hub in nanoelectronics and digital technologies. We leverage our world-class infrastructure and global ecosystem of partners across diverse industries to enable groundbreaking innovation in application domains, including healthcare, smart cities, mobility, logistics, manufacturing, and energy.
The Magnetic device group (MADE) is using the capabilities of the 300mm state-of-the-art MRAM platform available at Imec to design, explore and evaluate the performance of several different magnetic based devices such as STT, SOT and VCMA MRAMs. Other fundamental aspects of magnetism such as magneto-electric and spin wave devices are explored for both memory and logic applications.
Planned Secondments
CEA (Grenoble, France), under thte supervision of Laurent Vila.
GS (San Sebastián, Spain), under the supervision of Amaia Zurutuza.
Registering University
KU Leuven (Leuven, Belgium).
