Unusual Exchange Bias in Sr$_2$FeIrO$_6$/La$_{0.67}$Sr$_{0.33}$MnO$_3$ Multilayer

TL;DR

This study investigates unusual exchange bias phenomena at interfaces in multilayers of La$_{0.67}$Sr$_{0.33}$MnO$_3$ and Sr$_2$FeIrO$_6$, revealing complex magnetic interactions influenced by layer thickness and cooling conditions.

Contribution

It demonstrates the occurrence of both field-cooled and zero-field-cooled exchange bias in these multilayers, highlighting the role of interface coupling and layer thickness in magnetic behavior.

Findings

ZFC exchange bias weakens with increasing field and temperature.

FC exchange bias strengthens with reduced FM layer thickness.

Unusual exchange bias linked to interface antiferromagnetic coupling.

Abstract

Here, we study an interface induced magnetic properties in 3$d$-5$d$ based multilayer made of La$_{0.67}$Sr$_{0.33}$MnO$_3$ and double perovskite Sr$_2$FeIrO$_6$, respectively. Bulk La$_{0.67}$Sr$_{0.33}$MnO$_3$ is metallic and shows ferromagnetic (FM) ordering above room temperature. In contrast, bulk Sr$_2$FeIrO$_6$, is an antiferromagnet (AFM) with N$\acute{e}$el temperature around 45 K ($T_N$) and exhibits an insulating behavior. Two set of multilayers have been grown on SrTiO$_3$ (100) crystal with varying thickness of FM layer. multilayer with equal thickness of La$_{0.67}$Sr$_{0.33}$MnO$_3$ and Sr$_2$FeIrO$_6$ ($\sim$ 10 nm) shows exchange bias (EB) effect both in conventionally field cooled (FC) as well as in zero field cooled (ZFC) magnetic hysteresis measurements which is rather unusual. The ZFC EB effect is weakened both with increasing maximum field during initial magnetization process at low temperature and with increasing temperature. Interestingly, multilayer with reduced thickness of La$_{0.67}$Sr$_{0.33}$MnO$_3$ ($\sim$ 5 nm) does not exhibit ZFC EB phenomenon, however, the FC EB effect is strengthened showing much higher value. We believe that an AFM type exchange coupling at interface and its evolution during initial application of magnetic field cause this unusual EB in present multilayers.