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

Abstract

We report on the selective fabrication of high-quality Sr${}_2$IrO${}_4$ and SrIrO${}_3$ epitaxial thin films from a single polycrystalline Sr${}_2$IrO${}_4$ 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${}_{n+1}$Ir${}_n$O${}_{3n+1}$ series can possibly be achieved by kinetic control away from the thermodynamic limit. These findings offer a new approach to the synthesis of ultra-thin films of the RP series of iridates and can be extended to other complex oxides with layered structure.

7 pages, 6 figures

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• Charge transfer in iridate-manganite superlattices
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• Engineering One-Dimensional Quantum Stripes from Superlattices of Two-Dimensional Layered Materials
• Selective growth of epitaxial Sr2IrO4 by controlling plume dimensions in pulsed laser deposition

Cited by in corpus (7)

• The Jeff=1/2 antiferromagnet Sr2IrO4: A golden avenue toward new physics and functions
• Strange semimetal dynamics in SrIrO${}_3$
• Magnetic and transport properties in pyrochlore iridates (Y${}_{1-x}$Pr${}_x$)${}_2$Ir${}_2$O${}_7$: The role of $f$-$d$ exchange interaction and $d$-$p$ orbital hybridization
• Large exchange bias and low temperature glassy state in frustrated triangular-lattice antiferromagnet Ba${}_3$NiIr${}_2$O${}_9$
• Low temperature ferromagnetism in perovskite SrIrO${}_3$ films
• Anisotropic linear and nonlinear charge-spin conversion in topological semimetal SrIrO3
• Strain-dependent Insulating State and Kondo Effect in Epitaxial SrIrO${}_3$ Films