Interfacial spin-glass-like state and exchange bias in epitaxial iridate-manganite heterostructure.

Interface engineering in transition metal oxide heterostructures not only gives rise to exotic physical phenomena, but also has potential applications in spintronics. In this study, we demonstrate the appearance of strong interfacial coupling in 5 d paramagnetic SrIrO 3 and 3 d ferromagnetic La 0.67 Sr 0.33 MnO 3 bilayers, which manifests itself in the dramatic enhancement of coercivity by about 70 times larger than that of the single La 0.67 Sr 0.33 MnO 3 layer and the observation of an unexpected exchange bias effect up to 40 K. Systematic magnetic analysis further reveals the emergence of an interfacial spin glass state in this 5 d -3 d oxide bilayer. This interfacial-coupling-induced spin glass state is the underlying origin of the unconventional exchange bias effect rarely observed in paramagnetic/ferromagnetic heterostructures. • High-quality 5 d SrIrO 3 /3 d La 0.67 Sr 0.33 MnO 3 bilayers have been epitaxially grown. • An unexpected exchange bias effect is observed for the first time in the bilayer. • The exchange bias effect is driven by interfacial spin glass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]