Atomic Structure and Electron Magnetic Circular Dichroism of Individual Rock Salt Structure Antiphase Boundaries in Spinel Ferrites

Spinel ferrites are an important class of materials, whose magnetic properties interest for industrial applications. The antiphase boundaries (APBs) that commonly observed in spinel ferrite films can hinder their applications spintronic devices and sensors, as a result influence on degradation magnetoresistance the materials. However, it is challenging to correlate with atomic structure individual APBs due limited spatial resolution most imaging techniques. Here, aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy energy-loss chiral dichroism used measure circular (EMCD) single APB NiFe2O4 takes form rock salt interlayer associated crystal translation (1/4)a[011]. First principles density functional theory calculations confirm this specific introduces antiferromagnetic coupling significant decrease magnitude moments, which consistent EMCD signal at APB. results provide new insight into physical origins defect scale.