Anisotropic superconductivity induced by periodic multiferroic domain patterns

Yen-Lin Huang,Jiunn-Yuan Lin,Heng-Jui Liu,Yan-Ting Wang,Ying-Hao Chu,Ya-Ping Chiu,Jheng-Cyuan Lin,Chia-Seng Chang,Rong Huang,Fei Xue,Bo-Chao Huang,Long-Qing Chen

doi:10.1038/s41427-019-0178-y

Abstract

The competition between order parameters, such as ferroelectricity, ferromagnetism, and superconductivity, is one of the most fascinating topics in condensed matter physics. Here, we report intriguing anisotropic superconductivity in YBa2Cu3O7 − x films induced by a multiferroic, BiFeO3, with periodic domain patterns. The anisotropic superconductivity was investigated by transport measurements and supported by phase-field simulations, and then the detailed local electronic structures were revealed by cross-sectional scanning tunneling microscopy. We found that the oxygen redistribution in YBa2Cu3O7 − x modulated by the ferroelectric polarization in BiFeO3 was the key mechanism driving this anisotropic superconductivity. The presented heteroarchitecture of a high-temperature superconductor and a domain-engineered multiferroic provides a new approach to tune superconductivity and offers potential advantages for the design of future multifunctional devices.

Highlights

The reversible switching ability of order parameters is a distinguishing key feature of spontaneous ordering in ferroics
We note that the ferroelectric polarization configurations are different in the 109° and 71° patterns shown in Fig. 1b, e
The structural information of the heterostructures was extracted from a series of X-ray diffraction reciprocal space maps (RSMs) shown in Fig. 1c, f

Summary

Introduction

The reversible switching ability of order parameters is a distinguishing key feature of spontaneous ordering in ferroics. Among the numerous ferroic systems that have been explored, multiferroics have recently aroused great scientific interest due to the coexistence and intriguing coupling between order parameters, allowing the modulation of one through another[1,2,3,4,5]. Perovskite BFO possesses the space group of R3c with spontaneous ferroelectric polarization along pseudocubic directions and in the G-type antiferromagnetic ordering; as a result of the free energy competition, the ferroics form domains[9,10]. The tangled ferroic orders in multiferroics result in the ability to provide a unique environment to the heterostructures via various coupling mechanisms. By precisely controlling domain patterns, a ferroic system can improve the electric, magnetic, and structural coupling to adjacent layers. Uniaxial magnetic anisotropy and anisotropic magnetoresistance have been observed in a La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 layer grown on a periodic 71° BFO domain pattern, where the magnetic easy axis of the La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 and ferroelectric

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