Electrical and magneto-optical characterization of Py/MoS2 bilayer: A facile growth of magnetic-metal/semiconductor heterostructure

Ferromagnet/two-dimensional transition-metal dichalcogenides (FM/2D-TMDCs) have drawn great attention due to their potential impact in electronics, optoelectronics, and spintronics. However, their fabrication technology is very limited especially when manufacturing of a FM-metal/TMDC-semiconductor element is a purpose. Here, we report a successful demonstration of a NiFe (Py)/2D-TMDC (MoS2) metal/semiconductor bilayer device with a systematic study of its electronic transport and magneto-optical response. The MoS2 with a thickness of 50 nm is grown through electrodeposition technique on a sputter deposited 40 nm Py layer. I-V characterization ultimately demonstrates a Schottky response due to presence of a barrier formed at the interface. Magneto-optical Kerr effect (MOKE) represents a significant amplification as the MoS2 cap-layer formed an optical cavity. In addition, the coercive field of Py/MoS2 bilayer shows a decrease w.r.t. that of the Py layer because of proximity coupling formed at the interface. This study demonstrates not only a successful fabrication of FM-metal/TMDC-semiconductor contact, but also an optical path enhancement due to presence of the TMDC layers for optical and magneto-optical applications. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.