Emergent ultra-high temperature ferromagnetism in La_(2)CoO_(4±x) thin films

Searching for novel ferromagnetic oxides with high Curie temperature(TC)has been one of the main goals for oxide spintronics.The well-known perovskite cobaltate LaCoO_(3) is a classical ferromagnet in its thin-film form;however,it suffers from a low TC(~85 K).Here we report a new type of ferromagnetic La-Co-O films with an ultrahigh TC of~820 K.They are fabricated by pulsed laser deposition from a LaCoO_(3) target at low oxygen partial pressures.Detailed structural analysis indicates that they crystallize in terms of the Ruddlesden–Popper phase of La_(2)CoO_(4±x).In sharp contrast to the antiferromagnetism of bulk La_(2)CoO_(4),the strong ferromagnetism in the La_(2)CoO_(4±x) thin films is firmly demonstrated by magnetometry measurements,X-ray magnetic circular dichroism characterization,and magnetotransport experiments.More importantly,density functional theory calculations indicate that the nonstoichiometric oxygen induces an antiferromagnetic-to-ferromagnetic phase transition,accompanied by the orbital reconstruction of Co 3d electrons.Thus,our study provides an attractive strategy for designing or synthesizing exotic magnetic oxides with high ordering temperatures.