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Title: Synthesis and electronic properties of Ruddlesden-Popper strontium iridate epitaxial thin films stabilized by control of growth kinetics

Journal Article · · Physical Review Materials
 [1];  [2];  [1];  [3];  [1];  [4];  [5];  [4];  [5];  [1]
  1. Rutgers Univ., Piscataway, NJ (United States). Dept. of Physics and Astronomy
  2. Rutgers Univ., Piscataway, NJ (United States). Dept. of Physics and Astronomy; Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Zhejiang (China). Ningbo Inst. of Materials Technology and Engineering
  3. Indian Inst. of Science, Bengaluru (India). Dept. of Physics
  4. Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States). Advanced Photon Source (APS)
  5. Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States). Advanced Light Source (ALS)

We report on the selective fabrication of high-quality Sr2IrO4 and SrIrO3 epitaxial thin films from a single polycrystalline Sr2IrO4 target by pulsed laser deposition. Using a combination of x-ray diffraction and photoemission spectroscopy characterizations, we discover that within a relatively narrow range of substrate temperature, the oxygen partial pressure plays a critical role in the cation stoichiometric ratio of the films, and triggers the stabilization of different Ruddlesden-Popper (RP) phases. Resonant x-ray absorption spectroscopy measurements taken at the Ir L edge and the O K edge demonstrate the presence of strong spin-orbit coupling, and reveal the electronic and orbital structures of both compounds. These results suggest that in addition to the conventional thermodynamics consideration, higher members of the Srn+1IrnO3n+1 series can possibly be achieved by kinetic control away from the thermodynamic limit. These findings offer an approach to the synthesis of ultrathin films of the RP series of iridates and can be extended to other complex oxides with layered structure.

Research Organization:
Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC); Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-06CH11357; SC0012375; AC02-05CH11231
OSTI ID:
1422577
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1414625
Journal Information:
Physical Review Materials, Vol. 1, Issue 7; ISSN 2475-9953
Publisher:
American Physical Society (APS)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 30 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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Cited By (6)

The J eff = 1/2 Antiferromagnet Sr 2 IrO 4 : A Golden Avenue toward New Physics and Functions journal October 2019
Epitaxial stabilization of pulsed laser deposited Sr n +1 Ir n O 3 n +1 thin films: Entangled effect of growth dynamics and strain journal September 2018
Interfacial charge-transfer Mott state in iridate–nickelate superlattices journal September 2019
Interface-engineered hole doping in Sr 2 IrO 4 /LaNiO 3 heterostructure journal October 2019
Magnetic and transport properties of the pyrochlore iridates ( Y 1 x Pr x ) 2 Ir 2 O 7 : Role of f d exchange interaction and d p orbital hybridization journal February 2020
The Jeff=1/2 antiferromagnet Sr2IrO4: A golden avenue toward new physics and functions text January 2021

Figures / Tables (7)


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