Dimensionality-driven metal-insulator transition in spin-orbit-coupled IrO2

Arias Egido E. ; Laguna Marco M.A. ; Piquer Oliet C. ; Jiménez Cavero P. ; Lucas del Pozo I. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Morellón Alquézar L. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Gallego F. ; Rivera-Calzada A. ; Cabero-Piris M. ; Santamaria J. ; Fabbris G. ; Haskel D. ; Boada R. ; Díaz-Moreno S.

Resumen: 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. © 2021 The Royal Society of Chemistry.

Idioma: Inglés

DOI: 10.1039/d1nr04207f

Año: 2021

Publicado en: Nanoscale 13, 40 (2021), 17125-17135
ISSN: 2040-3364

Factor impacto JCR: 8.307 (2021)

Categ. JCR: CHEMISTRY, MULTIDISCIPLINARY rank: 37 / 179 = 0.207 (2021) - Q1 - T1
Categ. JCR: PHYSICS, APPLIED rank: 23 / 161 = 0.143 (2021) - Q1 - T1
Categ. JCR: MATERIALS SCIENCE, MULTIDISCIPLINARY rank: 70 / 344 = 0.203 (2021) - Q1 - T1
Categ. JCR: NANOSCIENCE & NANOTECHNOLOGY rank: 31 / 108 = 0.287 (2021) - Q2 - T1

Factor impacto CITESCORE: 13.4 - Materials Science (Q1)

Factor impacto SCIMAGO: 1.744 - Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (Q1) - Materials Science (miscellaneous) (Q1)

Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/DGA/E12-20R
Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/DGA/E28-20R
Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/MICINN/PID2020-115159GB-I00
Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/MINECO/MAT2014-54425-R
Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/MINECO/MAT2017-82970-C2-R
Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/MINECO/MAT2017-83468-R

Tipo y forma: Article (Published version)

Área (Departamento): Área Física Materia Condensada (Dpto. Física Materia Condensa.)