Giant electrostatic modification of magnetism via electrolyte-gate-induced cluster percolation in L a1-x S rxCo O 3

Jeff Walter, T. Charlton, H. Ambaye, M. R. Fitzsimmons, Peter P. Orth, R. M. Fernandes, Chris Leighton

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

27 Scopus citations

Abstract

Electrical control of magnetism is a long-standing goal in science and technology, with the potential to enable a next generation of low-power memory and logic devices. Recently developed electrolyte gating techniques provide a promising route to realization, although the ultimate limits on modulation of magnetic properties remain unknown. Here, guided by a recent theoretical prediction, we demonstrate large enhancement of electrostatic modulation of ferromagnetic order in ion-gel-gated ultrathin films of the perovskite La0.5Sr0.5CoO3-δ by thickness tuning to the brink of percolation. Application of only 3-4 V is then shown capable of inducing a clear percolation transition from a short-range magnetically ordered insulator to a robust long-range ferromagnetic metal with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. This realizes giant electrostatic Curie temperature modulation over a 150 K window, outstanding values for both complex oxides and electrolyte gating. In operando polarized neutron reflectometry confirms gate-controlled ferromagnetism, additionally demonstrating, surprisingly, that electrostatically induced magnetic order can penetrate substantially deeper than the Thomas-Fermi screening length.

Original languageEnglish
Article number111406
JournalPhysical Review Materials
Volume2
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 30 2018

Funding

Work was primarily supported by the National Science Foundation through the UMN MRSEC under Grant No. DMR-1420013. Partial support (specifically for neutron scattering) is acknowledged from the DOE through the UMN Center for Quantum Materials, under Grants No. DE-FG02-06ER46275 and No. DE-SC-0016371. A portion of this research used resources at the Spallation Neutron Source, a DOE Office of Science User Facility operated by Oak Ridge National Lab. Parts of this work were performed in the Characterization Facility, UMN, which receives partial support from NSF through the MRSEC program.

FundersFunder number
UMN Center for Quantum MaterialsDE-FG02-06ER46275
UMN MRSEC
National Science Foundation
U.S. Department of Energy

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