Strain and Defect-Tailored Magnetotransport in NiCo2O4 Thin Films and Freestanding Membranes

Wu, Qiuchen; Zhang, Yuanyuan; Li, Tianlin; Han, Myung-Geun; Hwang, Soo-Yoon; Nam, Yeon-Seo; Choi, Si-Young; Zhu, Yimei; Hong, Xia

doi:10.1021/acsnano.5c20447

Strain and Defect-Tailored Magnetotransport in NiCo₂O₄ Thin Films and Freestanding Membranes

Journal Article · Mon Mar 30 00:00:00 EDT 2026 · ACS Nano

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.5c20447· OSTI ID:3029257

^[1]; ^[1]; Li, Tianlin ^[1]; ^[2]; Hwang, Soo-Yoon ^[3]; Nam, Yeon-Seo ^[3]; ^[4]; ^[2]; ^[1]

University of Nebraska−Lincoln, NE (United States)
Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)
Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States); Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) (Korea, Republic of)
Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) (Korea, Republic of)

Magnetic spinel NiCo₂O₄ is promising for developing spintronic applications due to its high magnetic Curie temperature, high spin polarization, fast spin dynamics, and strain-tunable magnetic anisotropy, while its electronic and magnetic properties depend sensitively on epitaxial strain and disorder. Here, we use epitaxial NiCo₂O₄ thin films and freestanding NiCo₂O₄ membranes as model systems to reveal the complex interplay of strain and defects in determining the metallicity and magnetotransport properties of the ferrimagnetic spinel. NiCo₂O₄ on perovskite substrates and NiCo₂O₄ membranes exhibit insulating behaviors and spin canting, in sharp contrast to the metallic NiCo₂O₄ films on spinel substrates that possess strong perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. Anisotropic magnetoresistance studies provide critical information about disorder-induced spin scattering and strain-induced tetragonal magnetocrystalline anisotropy, which is corroborated by comprehensive electron microscopy characterizations. Here, our study presents a promising venue for designing flexible magnetic memory, sensor, and spintronic applications.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States); University of Nebraska−Lincoln, NE (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: National Science Foundation (NSF); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Materials Sciences & Engineering Division (MSE); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Scientific User Facilities (SUF)

Grant/Contract Number:: SC0012704; SC0026103

Other Award/Contract Number:: OIA-2044049
ECCS: 2025298

OSTI ID:: 3029257

Report Number(s):: DOE-UNL-SC26103--1

Journal Information:: ACS Nano, Journal Name: ACS Nano Journal Issue: 14 Vol. 20; ISSN 1936-086X; ISSN 1936-0851

Publisher:: American Chemical Society (ACS)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY
anisotropic magnetoresistance
anomalous Hall effect
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phase separation
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Strain and Defect-Tailored Magnetotransport in NiCo2O4 Thin Films and Freestanding Membranes

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Strain and Defect-Tailored Magnetotransport in NiCo₂O₄ Thin Films and Freestanding Membranes