Dual-Sublattice Ferromagnetism Driven by Cooperative Double Exchange and Superexchange at NdNiO$_3$/CaMnO$_3$ Interfaces

Abstract

Engineering emergent ferromagnetism at correlated-oxide interfaces offers a powerful route to creating collective states that do not exist in the parent materials. Here, we show that interfacial valence reconstruction in NdNiO$_3$/CaMnO$_3$ superlattices generates dual-sublattice ferromagnetism involving both Mn and Ni. Depth-resolved standing-wave X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy reveals enhanced Mn$^{3+}$ character on the CaMnO$_3$ side of the interface and enhanced Ni$^{2+}$ character on the NdNiO$_3$ side, establishing the configurations required for Mn$^{4+}$-O-Mn$^{3+}$ double exchange and Ni$^{2+}$-O-Mn$^{4+}$ superexchange, respectively. At low temperature, element-specific XMCD reveals ferromagnetic responses from both sublattices, with the Ni response concentrated predominantly in the Ni$^{2+}$-derived spectral component that SW-XPS independently shows to be enhanced at the interface. Together, these results show that cooperative double exchange within CaMnO$_3$ and superexchange across the interface couple the Mn and Ni sublattices, providing a general strategy for engineering interfacial ferromagnetism in correlated oxides.