Surface-Driven Magnetotransport in Perovskite Nanocrystals

Abstract

Unique insights into magnetotransport in 20 nm ligand-free La_0.67 Sr_0.33 MnO₃ perovskite nanocrystals of nearly perfect crystalline quality reveal a chemically altered 0.8 nm thick surface layer that triggers exceptionally large magnetoresistance at low temperature, independently of the spin polarization of the ferromagnetic core. This discovery shows how the nanoscale impacts magnetotransport in a material widely spread as electrode in hybrid spintronic devices.

Keywords: magnetism; magnetoresistance; nanoparticles; perovskites; spin transport.