Ferroelectricity-induced interfacial ferromagnetism in non-magnetic heterostructures

ORAL

Abstract

We show, through deliberate interfacial electronic structure modification, ferroelectricity induced room-temperature interfacial ferromagnetism with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy in Pt at the Pt/BaTiO3 interface in a nominally non-magnetic Pt/BaTiO3/SrTiO3 (001) heterostructure. The average magnetic moment of a 2 nm Pt thin film on 20 unit cells of BaTiO3 at 300 K is ~0.4 mB/Pt. Our first-principles calculations, as well as scanning transmission electron microscopy measurements indicate that the interfacial electronic structure modification induced by the polarization of BaTiO3 and Pt substitution of Ti at the Pt/BaTiO3 interface is responsible for the unusual ferromagnetism in Pt. The general concept of interfacial electronic structure modification provides an innovative route to induce interfacial room-temperature ferromagnetism in a nominally non-magnetic material.

In collaboration with Bénédicte Warot-Fonrose, N. L. Yakovlev, C. J. Li, S. W. Zeng, Z. Huang, K. Han, Z. S. Lim, J. M. D. Coey

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Presenters

  • W. X. Zhou

    Department of Physics & NUSNNI-NanoCore, Natl Univ of Singapore

Authors

  • W. X. Zhou

    Department of Physics & NUSNNI-NanoCore, Natl Univ of Singapore

  • H. Wang

    Department of MSE, National University of Singapore

  • Tula Paudel

    Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nebraska Lincoln, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Univ of Nebraska - Lincoln

  • H. J. Wu

    Department of MSE, National University of Singapore

  • Thirumalai Venkatesan

    Department of Physics & NUSNNI-NanoCore, Natl Univ of Singapore, Department of Physics, National University of Singapore, NUSNNI, National University of Singapore, Natl Univ of Singapore, Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Institute, National University of Singapore, National University of Singapore

  • Stephen Pennycook

    Natl Univ of Singapore, Department of MSE, National University of Singapore

  • Evgeny Tsymbal

    Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nebraska Lincoln, Univ of Nebraska - Lincoln, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Univ of Nebraska - Lincoln, Physics and Astronomy, Univ of Nebraska - Lincoln, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

  • J. S. Chen

    Department of MSE, National University of Singapore

  • Ariando Ariando

    Department of Physics & NUSNNI-NanoCore, Natl Univ of Singapore, Department of Physics, National University of Singapore, Natl Univ of Singapore