Proximity effects induced exchange bias and perpendicular net moment in SrIrO3

Abstract

The magnetic proximity effect enables the incorporation of magnetic properties into non-magnetic materials, thereby achieving high-performance electronic devices. The 5d perovskite-oxide iridates provide a versatile platform for investigating competing electronic states due to their strong spin–orbit coupling. By proximity to conventional 3d transition-metal oxide ferromagnets, originally paramagnetic SrIrO3 is expected to exhibit exotic magnetic phenomena. In this study, we report the emergence of perpendicular net moment and an unprecedented exchange bias effect in SrIrO3 sandwiched between two ferromagnetic LaMnO3 layers. The magnetization measurements clearly demonstrate antiferromagnetic coupling in the heterostructures, resulting in a shift of the magnetic hysteresis loops. Furthermore, magneto-transport measurements provide evidence for the induction of a net moment along the perpendicular direction of the SrIrO3 film plane due to proximity effects. Both the magnetic pinning effect and perpendicular magnetization can be controlled by an external magnetic field. These findings expand the potential applications of iridate-related heterostructures in modern information storage fields such as skyrmions, spin–orbit torques, and antiferromagnet-based spintronics.