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Atomic‐scale metal–insulator transition in SrRuO3 ultrathin films triggered by surface termination conversion
Authors:
Han Gyeol
Lee
(Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul; Seoul National University)
,
Lingfei
Wang
(Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul; Seoul National University)
,
Liang
Si
(Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Institut für Festkörperphysik)
,
Xiaoyue
He
(National University of Singapore; Songshan Lake Materials Laboratory)
,
Daniel G.
Porter
(Diamond Light Source)
,
Jeong Rae
Kim
(Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul; Seoul National University)
,
Eun Kyo
Ko
(Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul; Seoul National University)
,
Jinkwon
Kim
(Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul; Seoul National University)
,
Sung Min
Park
(Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul; Seoul National University)
,
Bongju
Kim
(Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul; Seoul National University)
,
Andrew Thye Shen
Wee
(National University of Singapore)
,
Alessandro
Bombardi
(Diamond Light Source)
,
Zhicheng
Zhong
(Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)
,
Tae Won
Noh
(Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul; eoul National University)
Co-authored by industrial partner:
No
Type:
Journal Paper
Journal:
Advanced Materials
, VOL 9
State:
Published (Approved)
Published:
December 2019
Diamond Proposal Number(s):
22181
Abstract: The metal–insulator transition (MIT) in transition‐metal‐oxide is fertile ground for exploring intriguing physics and potential device applications. Here, an atomic‐scale MIT triggered by surface termination conversion in SrRuO3 ultrathin films is reported. Uniform and effective termination engineering at the SrRuO3(001) surface can be realized via a self‐limiting water‐leaching process. As the surface termination converts from SrO to RuO2, a highly insulating and nonferromagnetic phase emerges within the topmost SrRuO3 monolayer. Such a spatially confined MIT is corroborated by systematic characterizations on electrical transport, magnetism, and scanning tunneling spectroscopy. Density functional theory calculations and X‐ray linear dichroism further suggest that the surface termination conversion breaks the local octahedral symmetry of the crystal field. The resultant modulation in 4d orbital occupancy stabilizes a nonferromagnetic insulating surface state. This work introduces a new paradigm to stimulate and tune exotic functionalities of oxide heterostructures with atomic precision.
Journal Keywords: epitaxial ultrathin films; ferromagnetism; metal–insulator transition; SrRuO3; surface termination engineering
Diamond Keywords: Ferromagnetism
Subject Areas:
Materials,
Physics
Instruments:
I16-Materials and Magnetism
Added On:
16/12/2019 14:33
Discipline Tags:
Surfaces
Quantum Materials
Hard condensed matter - electronic properties
Physics
Magnetism
Materials Science
interfaces and thin films
Technical Tags:
Spectroscopy
Linear Dichroism (LD)