The perpendicular magnetic anisotropy at the $\mathrm{Co}$-oxide interface in $\mathrm{Pt}/\mathrm{Co}/{\mathrm{MO}}_x$ (${\mathrm{MO}}_x={\mathrm{Mg}\mathrm{O}}_x$, $\mathrm{Al}{\mathrm{O}}_x$, $\mathrm{Tb}{\mathrm{O}}_x$) is modified by an electric field using a 10-nm-thick ${\mathrm{Zr}\mathrm{O}}_2$ as a solid electrolyte. The large voltage-driven modification of the interfacial magnetic anisotropy and the nonvolatility of the effect is explained in terms of the migration of oxygen ions toward or away from the $\mathrm{Co}/{\mathrm{MO}}_x$ interface. While the effect is reversible in ${\mathrm{Pt}/\mathrm{Co}/\mathrm{Al}\mathrm{O}}_x$ and ${\mathrm{Pt}/\mathrm{Co}/\mathrm{Tb}\mathrm{O}}_x$, where the $\mathrm{Co}$ layer can be oxidized or reduced, in ${\mathrm{Pt}/\mathrm{Co}/\mathrm{Mg}\mathrm{O}}_x$ the effect is found to be irreversible. We propose that these differences may be related to the different nature of the ionic conduction within the ${\mathrm{MO}}_x$ layers.

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• Electrochemistry
• Ionic transport
• Magnetic anisotropy
• Magnetic texture
• Magneto-dielectric effect
• Spintronics
• Surface & interfacial phenomena
• Magnetic multilayers