Polar Spinel-Perovskite Interfaces: an atomistic study of Fe3O4(111)/SrTiO3(111) structure and functionality

• Published in: Scientific reports Vol. 6; no. 1; p. 29724
• Main Authors: Gilks, Daniel, McKenna, Keith P., Nedelkoski, Zlatko, Kuerbanjiang, Balati, Matsuzaki, Kosuke, Susaki, Tomofumi, Lari, Leonardo, Kepaptsoglou, Demie, Ramasse, Quentin, Tear, Steve, Lazarov, Vlado K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 14.07.2016; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 639/301/119; 639/925; Electrons; Humanities and Social Sciences; Interfaces; multidisciplinary; Science; Semiconductors; Spectrum analysis; Transmission electron microscopy
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/srep29724

Atomic resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy and electron energy loss spectroscopy combined with ab initio electronic calculations are used to determine the structure and properties of the Fe 3 O 4 (111)/SrTiO 3 (111) polar interface. The interfacial structure and chemical composition are shown to be atomically sharp and of an octahedral Fe/SrO 3 nature. Band alignment across the interface pins the Fermi level in the vicinity of the conduction band of SrTiO 3 . Density functional theory calculations demonstrate very high spin-polarization of Fe 3 O 4 in the interface vicinity which suggests that this system may be an excellent candidate for spintronic applications.