The relentless downscaling of integrated circuit systems imposes critical demands on spintronic technologies, particularly requiring superior storage density and efficient tunability beyond conventional magnetic-field approaches. A notable challenge persists in… Click to show full abstract
The relentless downscaling of integrated circuit systems imposes critical demands on spintronic technologies, particularly requiring superior storage density and efficient tunability beyond conventional magnetic-field approaches. A notable challenge persists in realizing multistate spintronic devices with electrical control at nanoscale. Here, we propose a breakthrough strategy for achieving bias-controlled giant tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) for multistate memory applications. Our design uses two-dimensional (2D) half-metals hosting strongly localized spin states (LSSs) at the Fermi level as two ferromagnet layers in magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs). Multiple memory states emerge from bias-driven alignment/misalignment of LSSs on two sides, generating sudden tunneling pathway changes and distinguishable TMR. First-principles quantum transport simulations on MTJs based on 2D VCl3 and FeCl2 reveal unprecedented bias-controlled and widely modulable TMR ratios spanning −194 to 2677% and −130 to 37,424%, respectively, accompanied by rare polarity switch capabilities. Our work opens a promising route for realizing electrical control of multistate spintronics.
               
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