The influence of a nickelic interlayer on spin transport efficiency at a YIG/Pt interface

Interfacial spin transport efficiency was studied in a yttrium iron garnet (YIG)/Pt spin-pumping system with different nickelic interlayers. It was found that the magnitude of the spin-pumping signals is sensitive to the chemical composition and crystalline orientation of the nickelic interlayers. As shown by the results obtained, a 2 nm thick metallic Ni interlayer enhances the spin-pumping signal, making it several times larger than that found for a YIG/Pt control sample. The spin-pumping signal around room temperature was found to be enhanced (suppressed) by antiferromagnetic NiO interlayers with perfect [111] orientation (without perfect [111] orientation). Our results confirm that a nickelic interlayer is a possible choice for optimizing interfacial spin transport, which is important for the development of a highly effective spin-based device.