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

Liu, Xiaoran; Cao, Yanwei; Pal, B.; Middey, S.; Kareev, M.; Choi, Y.; Shafer, P.; Haskel, D.; Arenholz, E.; Chakhalian, J.

doi:10.1103/PhysRevMaterials.1.075004

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

Journal Article · 22 December 2017 · Physical Review Materials

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevMaterials.1.075004 · OSTI ID:1422577

Liu, Xiaoran ^[1]; Cao, Yanwei ^[2]; Pal, B. ^[1]; Middey, S. ^[3]; Kareev, M. ^[1]; Choi, Y. ^[4]; Shafer, P. ^[5]; Haskel, D. ^[4]; Arenholz, E. ^[5]; Chakhalian, J. ^[1]

Rutgers Univ., Piscataway, NJ (United States). Dept. of Physics and Astronomy
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
Indian Inst. of Science, Bengaluru (India). Dept. of Physics
Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States). Advanced Photon Source (APS)
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 Sr_n+1Ir_nO_3n+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.

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Research Organization:: Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Science (SC); Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation; USDOE

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

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Cited by: 30 works

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