Ferromagnetism and conductivity in atomically thin SrRuO3

TL;DR

This study demonstrates high-quality atomically thin SrRuO3 layers exhibiting ferromagnetism and conductivity at low temperatures, advancing potential spintronic applications with tunable magnetic and electronic properties.

Contribution

First demonstration of high-quality, atomically thin SrRuO3 with ferromagnetism and conductivity, enabling new spintronic device possibilities.

Findings

Conductivity observed down to 50 mK

Ferromagnetic Curie temperature of 25 K

Magnetic signals persist up to 100 K

Abstract

Atomically thin ferromagnetic and conducting electron systems are highly desired for spintronics, because they can be controlled with both magnetic and electric fields. We present (SrRuO3)1-(SrTiO3)5 superlattices and single-unit-cell-thick SrRuO3 samples that are capped with SrTiO3. We achieve samples of exceptional quality. In these samples, the electron systems comprise only a single RuO2 plane. We observe conductivity down to 50 mK, a ferromagnetic state with a Curie temperature of 25 K, and signals of magnetism persisting up to approximately 100 K.