SrRuO3 (SRO) thin films have been grown on a (001)-oriented SrTiO3 substrate with Sr3Al2O6 (SAO) buffer layers using pulsed laser deposition. X-ray diffraction results reveal that the epitaxial strain of SRO changes from compressive to relaxed or tensile ones by tuning the thickness of the SAO buffer layer (tSAO). We have demonstrated that the variation of strain has a strong influence on the microstructure and electrical and magnetic properties of SRO. When tSAO < 10 nm, the epitaxial strain is relaxed and the SRO film possesses higher Curie temperature resembling that of SRO bulk. Upon further increasing tSAO ≥ 10 nm, the SRO films are subjected to tensile strain, showing a typical step-and-terrace surface and coherent epitaxy characteristic on the SAO buffer layer. The electrical and magnetic properties of SRO are very sensitive to buffer layer-controlled epitaxial strain. The tensile strained SRO films show quite different electrical transport properties at low temperature, i.e., appearance of metal-insulator transition and positive magnetoresistances and the absence of non-Fermi-liquid behavior. Additionally, magnetic anisotropy is found in both the tensile and the compressively strained SRO, while the strain-relaxed film shows isotropic magnetization. Based on the electrical and magnetic properties, a phase diagram of SRO on the SAO buffer layer has been constructed.
Transition metal oxides hold a wide spectrum of fascinating properties endowed by the strong electron correlations. In 4d and 5d oxides, exotic phases can be realized with the involvement of strong spin-orbit coupling (SOC), such as unconventional magnetism and topological superconductivity. Recently, topological Hall effects (THE) and magnetic skyrmions have been uncovered in SrRuO3 thin films and heterostructures, where the presence of SOC and inversion symmetry breaking at the interface are believed to play a key role. Realization of magnetic skyrmions in oxides not only offers a platform to study topological physics with correlated electrons, but also opens up new possibilities for magnetic oxides using in the low-power spintronic devices. In this review, we discuss recent observations of THE and skyrmions in the SRO film interfaced with various materials, with a focus on the electric tuning of THE. We conclude with a discussion on the directions of future research in this field.
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