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 3650

Subject Categories

Inorganic Chemistry

Physical Chemistry

Condensed Matter Physics

DOI

10.1038/s41467-020-17377-0

PubMed

32686663

More information

Latest update

8/29/2020