High mobility half-metallicity in the (LaMnO3)2/(SrTiO3)8 superlattice

First principles calculations have been performed to investigate the LaMnO3/SrTiO3 superlattice. Structural relaxation within the generalized gradient approximation results in no significant tiltings or rotations of oxygen octahedra, but in distinct distortions in the SrTiO3 region. Taking into account the onsite Coulomb interaction, we find that the Mn spins order ferromagnetically, in contrast to the antiferromagnetic state of bulk LaMnO3. Most importantly, the interface strain combined with charge transfer across the interface induces half-metallicity within the MnO2 layers. The superlattice is particulary interesting for spintronics applications because the half-metallic states are characterized by an extraordinary high mobility. (C) 2013 American Institute of Physics. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4789506]