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journal article·2021Open access

Dimensionality-driven metal–insulator transition in spin–orbit-coupled IrO 2

E. Arias-Egido, M. A. Laguna-Marco, C. Piquer, P. Jiménez-Cavero, I. Lucas, L. Morellón, F. Gallego, A. Rivera-Calzada, M. Cabero-Piris, J. Santamaria, G. Fabbris, D. Haskel, R. Boada, S. Díaz-Moreno

Nanoscale· Volume 13· Issue 40
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Source abstract

Abstract

A metal-insulator transition is observed in spin-orbit-coupled IrO2 thin films upon reduction of the film thickness. In the epitaxially grown samples, the critical thickness (t ∼ 1.5-2.2 nm) is found to depend on growth orientation (001), (100) or (110). Interestingly from the applied point of view, the insulating behavior is found even in polycrystalline ultrathin films. By analyzing the experimental electrical response with various theoretical models, we find good fits to the Efros-Shklovskii-VRH and the Arrhenius-type behaviors, which suggests an important role of electron correlations in determining the electrical properties of IrO2. Our magnetic measurements also point to a significant role of magnetic order. Altogether, our results would point to a mixed Slater- and Mott-type of insulator.
Source: europepmc · Quality: candidate unverified · Source record ↗

Research context

OpenAlex topics: Advanced Condensed Matter Physics · Magnetic and transport properties of perovskites and related materials · Electronic and Structural Properties of Oxides

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

Instituto de Nanociencia y Materiales de Aragón (INMA), CSIC - Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza 50009, Spain

Departamento de Física de la Materia Condensada, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza 50009, Spain

Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Madrid, CSIC, Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain

GFMC, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain

ICTS - Centro Nacional de Microscopía Electrónica, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain

Laboratorio de Heteroestructuras con aplicación en spintrónica, Unidad Asociada UCM/CSIC, 28049 Madrid, Spain

GFMC, Instituto de Magnetismo Aplicado, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain

Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL 60439, USA

Department of Chemistry Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain

Diamond Light Source Ltd Harwell Science and Innovation Campus Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0DE, UK

Funding

European Social Fund · H2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions · U.S. Department of Energy · Horizon 2020 Framework Programme · Horizon 2020 · Secretaría de Estado de Investigación, Desarrollo e Innovación · Diamond Light Source · Agencia Estatal de Investigación

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