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Magnetic effects at the interface between non-magnetic oxides

Nature Materials volume 6, pages 493–496 (2007)Cite this article

Abstract

The electronic reconstruction at the interface between two insulating oxides can give rise to a highly conductive interface1,2. Here we show how, in analogy to this remarkable interface-induced conductivity, magnetism can be induced at the interface between the otherwise non-magnetic insulating perovskites SrTiO3 and LaAlO3. A large negative magnetoresistance of the interface is found, together with a logarithmic temperature dependence of the sheet resistance. At low temperatures, the sheet resistance reveals magnetic hysteresis. Magnetic ordering is a key issue in solid-state science and its underlying mechanisms are still the subject of intense research. In particular, the interplay between localized magnetic moments and the spin of itinerant conduction electrons in a solid gives rise to intriguing many-body effects such as Ruderman–Kittel–Kasuya–Yosida interactions3, the Kondo effect4 and carrier-induced ferromagnetism in diluted magnetic semiconductors5. The conducting oxide interface now provides a versatile system to induce and manipulate magnetic moments in otherwise non-magnetic materials.

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Figure 1: Sheet resistance of n-type SrTiO3–LaAlO3 interfaces.
Figure 2: Large negative magnetoresistance.
Figure 3: Magnetic hysteresis.

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Acknowledgements

This work is part of the research program of the Foundation for Fundamental Research on Matter (FOM, financially supported by the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO)). A.B., D.B., H.H., G.R. and W.v.d.W. acknowledge additional support from NWO. The authors acknowledge J. Mannhart, A. J. Millis, R. Pentcheva and D. Winkler for useful discussions.

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Author notes

  1. M. Huijben

    Present address: Present address: Physics Department, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA,

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Science and Technology and MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Twente, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands

    A. Brinkman, M. Huijben, M. van Zalk, J. Huijben, G. Rijnders, D. H. A. Blank & H. Hilgenkamp

  2. High Field Magnet Laboratory, Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University Nijmegen, 6525 ED Nijmegen, The Netherlands

    U. Zeitler & J. C. Maan

  3. Strategic Research Orientation NanoElectronics, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Twente, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands

    W. G. van der Wiel

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Correspondence to A. Brinkman.

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Brinkman, A., Huijben, M., van Zalk, M. et al. Magnetic effects at the interface between non-magnetic oxides. Nature Mater 6, 493–496 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/nmat1931

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