Exchange bias between multiferroic HoMnO3 and ferromagnetic SrRuO3 films

Abstract

Orthorhombic HoMnO3 (o-HMO) thin films with a-axis orientation are epitaxially grown on ferromagnetic (FM) SrRuO3 (SRO) layers by using pulsed laser deposition. The structural and magnetic properties of o-HMO/SRO heterostructures are measured. The magnetic hysteresis loops of o-HMO/SRO show exchange bias at temperatures below the antiferromagnetic transition temperature of o-HMO. Furthermore, the large exchange bias field up to 815 Oe is observed at 5 K. These results demonstrate that the exchange bias between a FM oxide and the multiferroic o-HMO could be useful for future applications on spintronic devices.