Polaronic Emergent Phases in Manganite-based Heterostructures

Abstract

Transition metal functional oxides, e.g., perovskite manganites, with strong electron, spin and lattice correlations, are well-known for different phase transitions and field-induced colossal effects at the phase transition. Recently, the interfaces between dissimilar perovskites were shown to be a promising concept for the search of emerging phases with novel functionalities. We demonstrate that the properties of manganite films are effectively controlled by low dimensional emerging phases at intrinsic and extrinsic interfaces and appeared as a result of symmetry breaking. The examples include correlated Jahn–Teller polarons in the phase-separated (La1−yPry)0.7Ca0.3MnO3, electron-rich Jahn–Teller-distorted surface or “dead” layer in La0.7Sr0.3MnO3, electric-field-induced healing of “dead” layer as an origin of resistance switching effect, and high-TC ferromagnetic emerging phase at the SrMnO3/LaMnO3 interface in superlattices. These 2D polaronic phases with short-range electron, spin, and lattice reconstructions could be extremely sensitive to external fields, thus, providing a rational explanation of colossal effects in perovskite manganites.