Magnetic properties and electronic structures of ultrathin SrMnO3 /LaAlO3 (001) heterostructure

The magnetic properties and electronic structures of SMOn/LAOm are investigated by density functional theory calculations to reveal the magnetic ground states and novel interfacial spin transport properties. Both n-type LaO/MnO2 and p-type SrO/AlO2 interface show metallicity, and the density of states of Mn and O play the crucial role. It is demonstrated that we can tailor the electronic properties by applying epitaxial strain and adding the external magnetic field. This paper aims to provide an in-depth understanding of the origin of interfacial metallic and shed light on designing next-generation electronic devices. © 2020 Elsevier B.V.