Robust Biaxial Anisotropy and Switchable Néel Vectors in LaFeO3 Epitaxial Films

Lanier, Joseph; Michel, Justin; Flores, Jose; Yang, Fengyuan

doi:10.1021/acs.nanolett.4c04810

Robust Biaxial Anisotropy and Switchable Néel Vectors in LaFeO₃ Epitaxial Films

Journal Article · Thu Mar 13 00:00:00 EDT 2025 · Nano Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.nanolett.4c04810· OSTI ID:2539969

Lanier, Joseph ^[1]; Michel, Justin ^[1]; Flores, Jose ^[1]; ^[1]

The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH (United States)

Antiferromagnets with highly stable but switchable Néel vectors are desired for antiferromagnetic spintronics with ultrafast speed and terahertz frequencies. Electrical switching of antiferromagnetic insulators has been demonstrated using binary antiferromagnets, while large families of complex antiferromagnets such as perovskites are largely unexplored. Here, we show that epitaxial LaFeO₃ thin films on SrTiO₃(001) exhibit clear, robust biaxial anisotropy with a spin-flop field of a few tesla. Angular-dependent spin-Hall magnetoresistance (SMR) characterizations of Pt/LaFeO₃ bilayers with the current channel along SrTiO₃ [100] and [110] reveal distinct, intriguing shapes and field dependence. Simulations using a macrospin model accurately describe the main behavior and fine features of the SMR data from which key antiferromagnetic parameters are extracted. Furthermore, remanent SMR measurement confirms the high fidelity of the Néel vector along either easy axis of the biaxial anisotropy, indicating that epitaxial films of LaFeO₃ and potentially other perovskite antiferromagnets offer an attractive platform for antiferromagnetic spintronics.

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Research Organization:: The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: National Science Foundation (NSF); National Science Foundation (NSF), Material Research Science and Engineering Centers (MRSEC); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)

Grant/Contract Number:: SC0001304

OSTI ID:: 2539969

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 2540023
OSTI ID: 2920293

Journal Information:: Nano Letters, Journal Name: Nano Letters Journal Issue: 12 Vol. 25; ISSN 1530-6992; ISSN 1530-6984

Publisher:: American Chemical Society (ACS)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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