Large spin–orbit torque in sputtered amorphous PtTe films

Abstract

Deterministic control of perpendicular magnetization via spin–orbit torque (SOT) offers a promising route toward nonvolatile, ultrafast, and energy-efficient spintronic applications. Obtaining large-scale, high-quality spin source materials with high charge-to-spin conversion efficiency remains challenging. Here, we fabricated large-area amorphous PtTe thin films using magnetron sputtering and investigated their SOT efficiency through spin-torque ferromagnetic resonance and current-induced magnetization switching measurements. The amorphous PtTe films exhibit a high SOT efficiency of 0.322 and a spin Hall conductivity comparable to that of crystalline PtTe2, which may originate from short-range ordered structures in amorphous PtTe films and increased scattering. This work paves the way for the large-area production and practical application of amorphous thin films as efficient spin sources in next-generation spintronic technologies.