American Physical Society, Physical review B, 22(89), 2014
DOI: 10.1103/physrevb.89.224413
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We study the structural, magnetic, and transport properties of ${\mathrm{LaAlO}}_{3}$/${\mathrm{EuTiO}}_{3}$/${\mathrm{SrTiO}}_{3}$ heterostructures grown by pulsed laser deposition. The samples are characterized in situ by electron diffraction and scanning probe microscopy and ex situ by transport measurements and x-ray absorption spectroscopy. ${\mathrm{LaAlO}}_{3}$/${\mathrm{EuTiO}}_{3}$/${\mathrm{SrTiO}}_{3}$ films show a ferromagnetic transition at $T$\le${}7.5$ K, related to the ordering of ${\mathrm{Eu}}^{2+}$ spins, even in samples characterized by just two ${\mathrm{EuTiO}}_{3}$ unit cells. A finite metallic conductivity is observed only in the case of samples composed by one or two ${\mathrm{EuTiO}}_{3}$ unit cells and, simultaneously, by a ${\mathrm{LaAlO}}_{3}$ thickness greater than or equal to four unit cells. The effect of ferromagnetic ${\mathrm{EuTiO}}_{3}$ on the transport properties of $$δ${}$-doped ${\mathrm{LaAlO}}_{3}$/${\mathrm{EuTiO}}_{3}$/${\mathrm{SrTiO}}_{3}$ is critically discussed.