Towards spin-polarized two-dimensional electron gas at a surface of an antiferromagnetic insulating oxide

Mishra, Rohan, Kim, Young-Min, He, Qian ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4891-3581, Huang, Xing, Kim, Seong Keun, Susner, Michael A., Bhattacharya, Anand, Fong, Dillon D., Pantelides, Sokrates T. and Borisevich, Albina Y. 2016. Towards spin-polarized two-dimensional electron gas at a surface of an antiferromagnetic insulating oxide. Physical Review B 94 (4) , 045123. 10.1103/PhysRevB.94.045123

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Abstract

The surfaces of transition-metal oxides with the perovskite structure are fertile grounds for the discovery of novel electronic and magnetic phenomena. In this article, we combine scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) with density functional theory (DFT) calculations to obtain the electronic and magnetic properties of the (001) surface of a ( LaFe O 3 ) 8 / ( SrFe O 3 ) 1 superlattice film capped with four layers of LaFe O 3 . Simultaneously acquired STEM images and electron-energy-loss spectra reveal the surface structure and a reduction in the oxidation state of iron from F e 3 + in the bulk to F e 2 + at the surface, extending over several atomic layers, which signals the presence of oxygen vacancies. The DFT calculations confirm the reduction in terms of oxygen vacancies and further demonstrate the stabilization of an exotic phase in which the surface layer is half metallic and ferromagnetic, while the bulk remains antiferromagnetic and insulating. Based on the calculations, we predict that the surface magnetism and conductivity can be controlled by tuning the partial pressure of oxygen.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Cardiff Catalysis Institute (CCI) Chemistry
Subjects:	Q Science > QD Chemistry
Publisher:	American Physical Society
ISSN:	2469-9950
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	20 June 2017
Date of Acceptance:	18 July 2016
Last Modified:	04 May 2023 21:04
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/101614

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