Metal–insulator transition in composition-tuned nickel oxide films

Fowlie, Jennifer; Georgescu, Alexandru B.; Suter, Andreas; Mundet, Bernat; Toulouse, Constance; Jaouen, Nicolas; Viret, Michel; Domínguez, Claribel; Gibert, Marta; Salman, Zaher; Prokscha, Thomas; Alexander, Duncan T. L.; Kreisel, Jens; Georges, Antoine; Millis, Andrew J.; Triscone, Jean-Marc

doi:10.1088/1361-648X/accd38

Metal–insulator transition in composition-tuned nickel oxide films

Journal Article · Thu Apr 27 00:00:00 EDT 2023 · Journal of Physics. Condensed Matter

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-648X/accd38· OSTI ID:1971698

; Georgescu, Alexandru B.; Suter, Andreas; Mundet, Bernat; ; ; Viret, Michel; Domínguez, Claribel; Gibert, Marta; Salman, Zaher; Prokscha, Thomas; ; Kreisel, Jens; Georges, Antoine; Millis, Andrew J.; Triscone, Jean-Marc

Abstract

Thin films of the solid solution Nd $_{1 - x}$ La $_{x}$ NiO ₃ are grown in order to study the expected 0 K phase transitions at a specific composition. We experimentally map out the structural, electronic and magnetic properties as a function of x and a discontinuous, possibly first order, insulator–metal transition is observed at low temperature when x = 0.2. Raman spectroscopy and scanning transmission electron microscopy show that this is not associated with a correspondingly discontinuous global structural change. On the other hand, results from density functional theory (DFT) and combined DFT and dynamical mean field theory calculations produce a 0 K first order transition at around this composition. We further estimate the temperature-dependence of the transition from thermodynamic considerations and find that a discontinuous insulator–metal transition can be reproduced theoretically and implies a narrow insulator–metal phase coexistence with x . Finally, muon spin rotation ( µ SR) measurements suggest that there are non-static magnetic moments in the system that may be understood in the context of the first order nature of the 0 K transition and its associated phase coexistence regime.

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Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy (ARPA-E)

Grant/Contract Number:: AR0001209

OSTI ID:: 1971698

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 2422336
OSTI ID: 1970064

Journal Information:: Journal of Physics. Condensed Matter, Journal Name: Journal of Physics. Condensed Matter Journal Issue: 30 Vol. 35; ISSN 0953-8984

Publisher:: IOP PublishingCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United Kingdom

Language:: English

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