In-plane reversal of the magnetic anisotropy in (110)-oriented LaCoO₃/La_0.67Sr_0.33MnO₃ heterostructures

The interface engineering of the complex oxides with strongly coupled degrees of freedom opens a wide space for the exploration of novel effects. La_0.67Sr_0.33MnO₃ is one of the most typical complex oxides used for atomic level material engineering. Herein we reported an in-plane reversal of the magnetic anisotropy in (110)-oriented LaCoO₃/La_0.67Sr_0.33MnO₃ (LCO/LSMO) bilayers grown on (110)-oriented LaAlO₃ substrates. Fixing the LSMO layer thickness to 8 nm and varying the LCO layer from 0 to 8 nm, totally six bilayers were fabricated. Without the LCO layer, the LSMO film exhibits an easy axis along the [1-10] direction. However, when the thickness of the LCO layer exceeds 1 nm, a signature of spin-reorientation appears; the easy axis turns from the [1-10] to the [001] direction below 225 K. This tendency is continuously enhanced by increasing the LCO. We reveal that lattice strains are different along these two directions. The magnetic anisotropy is not only controlled by lattice strain but also by structural distortion at interface. This work shows the great potential of the interface engineering with differently structured oxides for the exploration of novel functional materials.