Ferromagnetic order controlled by the magnetic interface of LaNiO3/La2/3Ca1/3MnO3 superlattices

Interface engineering in complex oxide superlattices is a growing field, enabling manipulation of the exceptional properties of these materials, and also providing access to new phases and emergent physical phenomena. Here we demonstrate how interfacial interactions can induce a complex charge and spin structure in a bulk paramagnetic material. We investigate a superlattice (SLs) consisting of paramagnetic LaNiO3 (LNO) and highly spin-polarized ferromagnetic La2/3Ca1/3MnO3 (LCMO), grown on SrTiO3 (001) substrate. We observed emerging magnetism in LNO through an exchange bias mechanism at the interfaces in X-ray resonant magnetic reflectivity. We find non-symmetric interface induced magnetization profiles in LNO and LCMO which we relate to a periodic complex charge and spin superstructure. High resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy images reveal that the upper and lower interfaces exhibit no significant structural variations. The different long range magnetic order emerging in LNO layers demonstrates the enormous potential of interfacial reconstruction as a tool for tailored electronic properties.

Automated summary

Interface engineering in complex oxide superlattices is a growing field, allowing manipulation of properties and access to new phases. In this study, we demonstrate how interfacial interactions induce a complex charge and spin structure in a bulk paramagnetic material. By observing the emerging magnetism in LaNiO3 (LNO) through an exchange bias mechanism, we find that the interfaces exhibit non-symmetric interface induced magnetization profiles, indicating a periodic complex charge and spin superstructure.