- Meng, Dechao;
- Guo, Hongli;
- Cui, Zhangzhang;
- Ma, Chao;
- Zhao, Jin;
- Lu, Jiangbo;
- Xu, Hui;
- Wang, Zhicheng;
- Hu, Xiang;
- Fu, Zhengping;
- Peng, Ranran;
- Guo, Jinghua;
- Zhai, Xiaofang;
- Brown, Gail J;
- Knize, Randy;
- Lu, Yalin
Ferromagnetic insulators are required for many new magnetic devices, such as dissipationless quantum-spintronic devices, magnetic tunneling junctions, etc. Ferromagnetic insulators with a high Curie temperature and a high-symmetry structure are critical integration with common single-crystalline oxide films or substrates. So far, the commonly used ferromagnetic insulators mostly possess low-symmetry structures associated with a poor growth quality and widespread properties. The few known high-symmetry materials either have extremely low Curie temperatures (≤16 K), or require chemical doping of an otherwise antiferromagnetic matrix. Here we present compelling evidence that the LaCoO3 single-crystalline thin film under tensile strain is a rare undoped perovskite ferromagnetic insulator with a remarkably high TC of up to 90 K. Both experiments and first-principles calculations demonstrate tensile-strain-induced ferromagnetism which does not exist in bulk LaCoO3 The ferromagnetism is strongest within a nearly stoichiometric structure, disappearing when the Co2+ defect concentration reaches about 10%. Significant impact of the research includes demonstration of a strain-induced high-temperature ferromagnetic insulator, successful elevation of the transition over the liquid-nitrogen temperature, and high potential for integration into large-area device fabrication processes.