Energy Sciences

We observe an induced switchable magnetic moment of 1.6±0.40μB/Fe for the nominally antiferromagnetic LaFeO3 extending two to four interface layers into the non-charge transfer system La0.7Sr0.3MnO3/LaFeO3/SrTiO3(111). Simultaneously a mismatch of oxygen octahedra rotations at the interface implies an atomic reconstruction of reduced symmetry at the interface, reaching two to five layers into LaFeO3. Density functional theory of a structure with atomic reconstruction and different correlation strength shows a ferrimagnetic state with a net Fe moment at the interface. Together these results suggest that engineered oxygen octahedra rotations, affecting the local symmetry, affect electron correlations and can be used to promote magnetic properties.