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Exchange bias in LaNiO3–LaMnO3 superlattices

Nature Materials volume 11, pages 195–198 (2012)Cite this article

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Abstract

The wide spectrum of exotic properties exhibited by transition-metal oxides stems from the complex competition between several quantum interactions1,2. The capacity to select the emergence of specific phases at will is nowadays extensively recognized as key for the design of diverse new devices with tailored functionalities3. In this context, interface engineering in complex oxide heterostructures has developed into a flourishing field4, enabling not only further tuning of the exceptional properties of these materials, but also giving access to hidden phases and emergent physical phenomena5,6,7,8,9,10,11. Here we demonstrate how interfacial interactions can induce a complex magnetic structure in a non-magnetic material. We specifically show that exchange bias12 can unexpectedly emerge in heterostructures consisting of paramagnetic LaNiO3 (LNO) and ferromagnetic LaMnO3 (LMO). The observation of exchange bias in (111)-oriented LNO–LMO superlattices, manifested as a shift of the magnetization–field loop, not only implies the development of interface-induced magnetism in the paramagnetic LNO layers, but also provides us with a very subtle tool for probing the interfacial coupling between the LNO and LMO layers. First-principles calculations indicate that this interfacial interaction may give rise to an unusual spin order, resembling a spin-density wave, within the LNO layers.

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Figure 1: Schematic view and structural characterization of the LNO–LMO heterostructures.
Figure 2: Magnetic loops and temperature dependence of exchange bias field.
Figure 3: Results of the first-principles calculations.

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Acknowledgements

We thank S. Gariglio, C. Lichtensteiger, B. Ziegler and M. Lopes. We also thank M. Gabay and M. Bibes for helpful discussions. This work was supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation through the National Centre of Competence in Research ‘Materials with Novel Electronic Properties’ MaNEP and Division II, by MICINN-Spain (Grants No. MAT2010-18113 and No. CSD2007-00041), and by the European Union through the project OxIDes. We used the supercomputing facilities provided by RES and CESGA.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Département de Physique de la Matière Condensée, University of Geneva, 24 Quai Ernest-Ansermet, 1211 Genève 4, Switzerland

    Marta Gibert, Pavlo Zubko, Raoul Scherwitzl & Jean-Marc Triscone

  2. Institut de Ciència de Materials de Barcelona (ICMAB-CSIC), Campus UAB, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain

    Jorge Íñiguez

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  1. Marta Gibert
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  2. Pavlo Zubko
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  4. Jorge Íñiguez
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Contributions

P.Z. and J-M.T. conceived the project. M.G. fabricated the superlattices and carried out the magnetic measurements together with R.S. The first-principles calculations were carried out by J.Í. All authors contributed to the analysis and interpretation of the experimental results and the writing of the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Marta Gibert.

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Gibert, M., Zubko, P., Scherwitzl, R. et al. Exchange bias in LaNiO3–LaMnO3 superlattices. Nature Mater 11, 195–198 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/nmat3224

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