Ferroelectric Proximity Effect and Topological Hall Effect in SrRuO3/BiFeO3 Multilayers

Interfaces between complex oxides provide a unique opportunity to discover novel interfacial physics and functionalities. Here, we fabricate the multilayers of itinerant ferromagnet SrRuO3 (SRO) and multiferroic BiFeO3 (BFO) with atomically sharp interfaces. Atomically resolved transmission electron microscopy reveals that a large ionic displacement in BFO can penetrate into SRO layers near the BFO/SRO interfaces to a depth of 2-3 unit cells, indicating the ferroelectric proximity effect. A topological Hall effect is indicated by hump-like anomalies in the Hall measurements of the multilayer with a moderate thickness of the SRO layer. With magnetic measurements, it can be further confirmed that each SRO layer in the multilayers can be divided into interfacial and middle regions, which possess different magnetic ground states. Our work highlights the key role of functional heterointerfaces in exotic properties and provides an important guideline to design spintronic devices based on magnetic skyrmions.

Automated summary

The study investigates the physics and functionalities of interfaces between complex oxides through the fabrication of multilayers with atomically sharp interfaces. Atomically resolved transmission electron microscopy reveals the ferroelectric proximity effect, with a large ionic displacement in BiFeO3 penetrating into the SrRuO3 layers near the interfaces. Magnetic measurements further confirm the different magnetic ground states in the interfacial and middle regions of each SrRuO3 layer in the multilayers.