Pressure tuning of electron-phonon coupling: the insulator to metal transition in manganites

Far-Infrared Signatures for a Two-Step Pressure-Driven Metallization in Transition Metal Dichalcogenides

We present a high-pressure investigation of the semiconductor-to-metal transition in MoS₂ and WS₂ carried out by synchrotron-based far-infrared spectroscopy, to reconcile the controversial estimates of the metallization pressure found in the literature and gain new insight into the mechanisms ruling this electronic transition. Two spectral descriptors are found indicative of the onset of metallicity and of the origin of the free carriers in the metallic state: the absorbance spectral weight, whose abrupt increase defines the metallization pressure threshold, and the asymmetric line shape of the E_1u peak, whose pressure evolution, interpreted within the Fano model, suggests the electrons in the metallic state originate from n-type doping levels. Combining our results with those reported in the literature, we hypothesize a two-step mechanism is at work in the metallization process, in which the pressure-induced hybridization between doping and conduction band states drives an early metallic behavior, while the band gap closes at higher pressures.

Magnetoelectric Coupling Induced Orbital Reconstruction and Ferromagnetic Insulating State in PbZr0.52Ti0.48O3/La0.67Sr0.33MnO3 Heterostructures

Novel phenomena at the ferromagnetic/ferroelectric interface have generated much interest. Here, a ferromagnetic insulating state with the Curie temperature about 268-286 K in PbZr_0.52Ti_0.48O₃/La_0.67Sr_0.33MnO₃ heterostructures is induced and modulated by varying the PbZr_0.52Ti_0.48O₃ thickness. An abnormally enlarged c/a ratio in La_0.67Sr_0.33MnO₃ by strain-based coupling effect leads to d_3z²-r² orbital preferable occupancy. This orbital reconstruction modulates effective electron transfer and finally leads to a ferromagnetic insulating state. Valence change induced by charge-based coupling effect could be partially responsible for change in the Curie temperature in the strongly correlated electron system of La_1-xSr_xMnO₃. This work provides a deeper understanding of strain effects near the ferromagnetic/ferroelectric interface, especially in a PbZr_1-yTi_yO₃/La_1-xSr_xMnO₃ heterostructure system.

Unusual Mott transition in multiferroic PbCrO3

The Mott insulator in correlated electron systems arises from classical Coulomb repulsion between carriers to provide a powerful force for electron localization. Turning such an insulator into a metal, the so-called Mott transition, is commonly achieved by "bandwidth" control or "band filling." However, both mechanisms deviate from the original concept of Mott, which attributes such a transition to the screening of Coulomb potential and associated lattice contraction. Here, we report a pressure-induced isostructural Mott transition in cubic perovskite PbCrO3. At the transition pressure of ∼3 GPa, PbCrO3 exhibits significant collapse in both lattice volume and Coulomb potential. Concurrent with the collapse, it transforms from a hybrid multiferroic insulator to a metal. For the first time to our knowledge, these findings validate the scenario conceived by Mott. Close to the Mott criticality at ∼300 K, fluctuations of the lattice and charge give rise to elastic anomalies and Laudau critical behaviors resembling the classic liquid-gas transition. The anomalously large lattice volume and Coulomb potential in the low-pressure insulating phase are largely associated with the ferroelectric distortion, which is substantially suppressed at high pressures, leading to the first-order phase transition without symmetry breaking.

Local disorder investigation in NiS(2-x)Se(x) using Raman and Ni K-edge x-ray absorption spectroscopies

We report on Raman and Ni K-edge x-ray absorption investigations of a NiS(2-x)Se(x) (with x = 0.00, 0.50/0.55, 0.60, and 1.20) pyrite family. The Ni K-edge absorption edge shows a systematic shift going from an insulating phase (x = 0.00 and 0.50) to a metallic phase (x = 0.60 and 1.20). The near-edge absorption features show a clear evolution with Se doping. The extended x-ray absorption fine structure data reveal the evolution of the local structure with Se doping which mainly governs the local disorder. We also describe the decomposition of the NiS(2-x)Se(x) Raman spectra and investigate the weights of various phonon modes using Gaussian and Lorentzian profiles. The effectiveness of the fitting models in describing the data is evaluated by means of Bayes factor estimation. The Raman analysis clearly demonstrates the disorder effects due to Se alloying in describing the phonon spectra of NiS(2-x)Se(x) pyrites.

Pressure induced magnetic phase separation in La0.75Ca0.25MnO3 manganite

The pressure dependence of the Curie temperature T(C)(P) in La(0.75)Ca(0.25)MnO(3) was determined by neutron diffraction up to 8 GPa, and compared with the metallization temperature T(IM)(P) (Postorino et al 2003 Phys. Rev. Lett. 91 175501). The behavior of the two temperatures appears similar over the whole pressure range, suggesting a key role of magnetic double-exchange also in the pressure regime where the superexchange interaction is dominant. The coexistence of antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic peaks at high pressure and low temperature indicates a phase separated regime which is well reproduced with a dynamical mean-field calculation for a simplified model. A new P-T phase diagram has been proposed on the basis of the whole set of experimental data.

In situ Hall effect measurement on diamond anvil cell under high pressure

A method for in situ Hall effect measurement under high pressure was developed on a diamond anvil cell. The electrode was accurately integrated on one diamond anvil with regular shape. A uniform and strong magnetic field was introduced into the sample zone. The voltage errors brought by some negative effects during the measurement were well eliminated. The correction factor of the Hall coefficient, brought by the nonpoint contact between the electrode and the sample, was 4.51%. The measurement error of the magnetic field did not exceed 1%. The carrier character of ZnTe powders was studied up to 23 GPa. The evolution of conductivity with pressure was explained based on the variation of the carrier behavior.

Pressure-induced magnetic transition in manganite (La0.75Ca0.25MnO3)

Low temperature Mn K-edge x-ray magnetic circular dichroism and x-ray diffraction measurements were carried out to investigate the stability of the ferromagnetic ground state in manganite La0.75Ca0.25MnO3 under nearly uniform compression using diamond anvil cells. The magnetic dichroism signal gradually decreases with pressure and disappears at 23 GPa, and meanwhile a uniaxial compression of MnO6 octahedra along the b axis is observed to continuously increase with pressure and become anomalously large at 23.5 GPa. These changes are attributed to a ferromagnetic-antiferromagnetic transition that is associated with orbital ordering at high pressure.

Electronic phase separation and other novel phenomena and properties exhibited by mixed-valent rare-earth manganites and related materials

Transition metal oxides, such as the mixed-valent rare-earth manganites Ln(1-x)AxMnO3 (Ln, rare-earth ion, and A, alkaline-earth ion), show a variety of electronic orders with spatially correlated charge, spin and orbital arrangements, which in turn give rise to many fascinating phenomena and properties. These materials are also electronically inhomogeneous, i.e. they contain disjoint spatial regions with different electronic orders. Not only do we observe signatures of such electronic phase separation in a variety of properties, but we can also observe the different 'phases' visually through different types of imaging. We discuss various experiments pertaining to electronic orders and electronic inhomogeneities in the manganites and present a discussion of theoretical approaches to their understanding. It is noteworthy that the mixed-valent rare-earth cobaltates of the type Ln(1-x)AxCoO3 also exhibit electronic inhomogeneities just as the manganites.

Electronic Phase Separation in Correlated Oxides: The Phenomenon, Its Present Status and Future Prospects

Many transition metal oxide materials of high chemical purity are not necessarily monophasic. Thus, single crystals of chemically pure rare earth manganites and cobaltates of the general formula Ln(1-x)A(x)MO(3) (Ln=rare earth metal, A=alkaline earth metal, M=Mn, Co) exhibit the phenomenon of electronic phase separation wherein "phases" of different electronic and magnetic properties coexist. Such phase separation, the length scale of which can vary anywhere between a few nanometers to microns, gives distinct signatures in X-ray and neutron diffraction patterns, electrical and magnetic properties, as well as in NMR and other spectroscopies. While the probe one employs to investigate electronic phase separation depends on the length scale, it is noteworthy that direct imaging of the inhomogeneities has been accomplished. Some understanding of this phenomenon has been possible on the basis of some of the theoretical models, but we are far from unraveling the varied aspects of this new phenomenon. Herein, we present the highlights of experimental techniques and theoretical approaches, and comment on the future outlook for this fascinating phenomenon.

Far-infrared absorption of La1-xCaxMnO3-y at high pressure

The first far-infrared absorption spectra of manganite samples at pressures P up to 10 GPa were obtained on La1-xCaxMnO3-y by use of synchrotron radiation. For x=0.25 and 0.20 (y=0), P promotes partial metallization at room temperature through a strong reduction of the insulating gap. An x=0.20 sample with y=0.08 does not show any charge delocalization effect up to 10 GPa. An Urbach-like model of disordered Jahn-Teller wells is shown to well fit the far-infrared band edge and allows one to obtain a reliable pressure dependence of the energy gap.