First-principles study of structural, electronic and magnetic properties at the {(0001)Cr2O3-(111)Pt} interface

We perform first-principles density functional calculations to elucidate structural, electronic and magnetic properties at the interface of {(0001)Cr2O3-(111)Pt} bilayers. This investigation is motivated by the fact that, despite the promise of {Cr2O3-Pt} heterostructures in a variety of antiferromagnetic spintronic applications, many key structural, electronic, and magnetic properties at the {Cr2O3-Pt} interface are poorly understood. We first analyze all inequivalent lateral interface alignments to determine the lowest energy interfacial structure. For all lateral alignments including the lowest-energy one, we observe an accumulation of electrons at the interface between {Cr2O3} and Pt. We find an unexpected reversal of the magnetic moments of the interface Cr ions in the presence of Pt compared to surface Cr moments in vacuum-terminated {(0001)Cr2O3}. We also find that the heterostructure exhibits a magnetic proximity effect in the first three Pt layers at the interface with {Cr2O3}, providing a mechanism by which the anomalous Hall effect can occur in {(0001)Cr2O3-(111)Pt} bilayers. Our results provide the basis for a more nuanced interpretation of magnetotransport experiments on {(0001)Cr2O3-(111)Pt} bilayers and should inform future development of improved antiferromagnetic spintronic devices based on the {Cr2O3-Pt} material system.