1
|
Mattoni G, Zubko P, Maccherozzi F, van der Torren AJH, Boltje DB, Hadjimichael M, Manca N, Catalano S, Gibert M, Liu Y, Aarts J, Triscone JM, Dhesi SS, Caviglia AD. Striped nanoscale phase separation at the metal-insulator transition of heteroepitaxial nickelates. Nat Commun 2016; 7:13141. [PMID: 27804954 PMCID: PMC5097133 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms13141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2016] [Accepted: 09/07/2016] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Nucleation processes of mixed-phase states are an intrinsic characteristic of first-order phase transitions, typically related to local symmetry breaking. Direct observation of emerging mixed-phase regions in materials showing a first-order metal–insulator transition (MIT) offers unique opportunities to uncover their driving mechanism. Using photoemission electron microscopy, we image the nanoscale formation and growth of insulating domains across the temperature-driven MIT in NdNiO3 epitaxial thin films. Heteroepitaxy is found to strongly determine the nanoscale nature of the phase transition, inducing preferential formation of striped domains along the terraces of atomically flat stepped surfaces. We show that the distribution of transition temperatures is a local property, set by surface morphology and stable across multiple temperature cycles. Our data provide new insights into the MIT of heteroepitaxial nickelates and point to a rich, nanoscale phenomenology in this strongly correlated material. Probing the evolution of mixed-phase states in materials offers unique insights into the microscopic mechanism of phase transitions. Here, Mattoni et al. report imaging of nanoscale formation and growth of insulating domains across the metal-insulator transition in NdNiO3 thin films, uncovering a rich interplay between structural and electronic degrees of freedom.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- G Mattoni
- Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology, 2628 CJ Delft, Netherlands
| | - P Zubko
- London Centre for Nanotechnology and Department of Physics and Astronomy, University College London, 17-19 Gordon Street, London WC1H 0HA, UK
| | - F Maccherozzi
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Chilton OX11 0DE, UK
| | - A J H van der Torren
- Kamerlingh Onnes-Huygens Laboratory, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9504, 2300 RA Leiden, Netherlands
| | - D B Boltje
- Kamerlingh Onnes-Huygens Laboratory, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9504, 2300 RA Leiden, Netherlands
| | - M Hadjimichael
- London Centre for Nanotechnology and Department of Physics and Astronomy, University College London, 17-19 Gordon Street, London WC1H 0HA, UK
| | - N Manca
- Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology, 2628 CJ Delft, Netherlands
| | - S Catalano
- Département de Physique de la Matière Quantique, University of Geneva, 24 Quai Ernest-Ansermet, 1211 Genève 4, Switzerland
| | - M Gibert
- Département de Physique de la Matière Quantique, University of Geneva, 24 Quai Ernest-Ansermet, 1211 Genève 4, Switzerland
| | - Y Liu
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Chilton OX11 0DE, UK
| | - J Aarts
- Kamerlingh Onnes-Huygens Laboratory, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9504, 2300 RA Leiden, Netherlands
| | - J-M Triscone
- Département de Physique de la Matière Quantique, University of Geneva, 24 Quai Ernest-Ansermet, 1211 Genève 4, Switzerland
| | - S S Dhesi
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Chilton OX11 0DE, UK
| | - A D Caviglia
- Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology, 2628 CJ Delft, Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|