In the recent decade, the family of Heusler compounds has attracted tremendous scientific and technological interest in the field of spintronics. This is essentially due to their exceptional magnetic properties, which qualify them as promising functional materials in various data-storage devices, such as giant-magnetoresistance spin valves, magnetic tunnel junctions, and spin-transfer torque devices. In this article, we provide a comprehensive review on the applications of the Heusler family in magnetic data storage. In addition to their important roles in the performance improvement of these devices, we also try to point out the challenges as well as possible solutions, of the current Heusler-based devices. We hope that this review would spark further investigation efforts into efficient incorporation of this eminent family of materials into data storage applications by fully arousing their intrinsic potential.

Uniaxial magnetic anisotropy has been observed in La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 thin films grown on top of multiferroic BiFeO3 with ferroelectric stripe domains (see Figure). The magnetic easy axis of La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 correlates with the ferroelectric stripe domains. A possible spin coupling model at the La0.7Sr0.3MnO3/BiFeO3 interface is established between ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic orders to explain this phenomenon.

Magnetic and structural properties of Co/Pt multilayers with varying Co (tCo) and Pt (tPt) thickness grown on various seed layers have been examined. It is challenging to grow Co/Pt multilayers as a top electrode with high perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) for magnetic tunnel junctions which usually comprise of CoFeB/MgO/CoFeB. We show that a thicker Pt layer of 1.2 nm is necessary to attain effective anisotropy (Keff) up to 0.14 MJ/m3. On the other hand, Co/Pt multilayers with high PMA have been achieved for proper textured seed layers of Ru and Pt. In the case of Ru seed layer, a higher Keff = 0.45 MJ/m3 can be achieved for tCo = 0.5 nm and tPt = 0.2 nm. This can be attributed to the lower lattice mismatch (∼4%) within the multilayers and hence a more coherent CoPt (111) structure. Finally, we note that the film roughness could play an important role in influencing the PMA of the multilayers. The highest Keff ∼ 0.6 MJ/m3 is achieved for Pt seed layer.