Interface double-exchange ferromagnetism in the Mn-Zn-O system: New class of biphase magnetism

Abstract

In this Letter, we experimentally show that the room temperature ferromagnetism in the Mn-Zn-O system recently observed is associated with the coexistence of Mn^(3+) and Mn^(4+) via a double-exchange mechanism. The presence of the ZnO around MnO_2 modifies the kinetics of MnO_2 →Mn_2O_3 reduction and favors the coexistence of both Mn oxidation states. The ferromagnetic phase is associated with the interface formed at the Zn diffusion front into Mn oxide, corroborated by preparing thin film multilayers that exhibit saturation magnetization 2 orders of magnitude higher than bulk samples.