Resonant Inelastic X-ray Scattering from Electronic Excitations in $\alpha$-RuCl${}_3$ Nanolayers

Abstract

We present Ru $L_3$-edge resonant inelastic x-ray scattering (RIXS) measurements of spin-orbit and d-d excitations in exfoliated nanolayers of the Kitaev spin-liquid candidate RuCl${}_3$. Whereas the spin-orbit excitations are independent of thickness, we observe a pronounced red-shift and broadening of the d-d excitations in layers with thickness below $\sim$7 nm. Aided by model calculations, we attribute these effects to distortions of the RuCl${}_6$ octahedra near the surface. Our study paves the way towards RIXS investigations of electronic excitations in various other 2D materials and heterostructures.

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Cited by in corpus (1)

• $J=1/2$ Pseudospins and $d$-$p$ Hybridization in the Kitaev Spin Liquid Candidates Ru$X_3$ ($X$ = Cl, Br, I)