The emergence of magnetic ordering at complex oxide interfaces tuned by defects
Journal article, 2020
Complex oxides show extreme sensitivity to structural distortions and defects, and the intricate balance of competing interactions which emerge at atomically defined interfaces may give rise to unexpected physics. In the interfaces of non-magnetic complex oxides, one of the most intriguing properties is the emergence of magnetism which is sensitive to chemical defects. Particularly, it is unclear which defects are responsible for the emergent magnetic interfaces. Here, we show direct and clear experimental evidence, supported by theoretical explanation, that the B-site cation stoichiometry is crucial for the creation and control of magnetism at the interface between non-magnetic ABO3-perovskite oxides, LaAlO3 and SrTiO3. We find that consecutive defect formation, driven by atomic charge compensation, establishes the formation of robust perpendicular magnetic moments at the interface. Our observations propose a route to tune these emerging magnetoelectric structures, which are strongly coupled at the polar-nonpolar complex oxide interfaces.
Author
D. S. Park
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL)
A. D. Rata
Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg
I. V. Maznichenko
Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg
S. Ostanin
Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg
Y. L. Gan
Technical University of Denmark (DTU)
S. Agrestini
Diamond Light Source
ALBA Synchrotron Light Facility
G. J. Rees
University of Oxford
M. Walker
The University of Warwick
J. Li
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL)
J. Herrero-Martin
ALBA Synchrotron Light Facility
Gyanendra Singh
Chalmers, Microtechnology and Nanoscience (MC2), Quantum Device Physics
Z. Luo
The University of Warwick
A. Bhatnagar
Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg
Zentrum für Innovationskompetenz SiLi-nano
Y. Z. Chen
Technical University of Denmark (DTU)
V. Tileli
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL)
P. Muralt
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL)
Alexei Kalaboukhov
Chalmers, Microtechnology and Nanoscience (MC2), Quantum Device Physics
I. Mertig
Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg
K. Dorr
Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg
A. Ernst
Max Planck Society
Johannes Kepler University of Linz (JKU)
N. Pryds
Technical University of Denmark (DTU)
Nature Communications
2041-1723 (ISSN) 20411723 (eISSN)
Vol. 11 1 3650Subject Categories
Inorganic Chemistry
Physical Chemistry
Condensed Matter Physics
DOI
10.1038/s41467-020-17377-0
PubMed
32686663