Crossover between distinct symmetries in solid solutions of rare earth nickelates
Jennifer Fowlie,
Bernat Mundet,
Constance Toulouse,
Alexander Schober,
Mael Guennou,
Claribel Domínguez,
Marta Gibert,
Duncan T. L. Alexander,
Jens Kreisel,
Jean-Marc Triscone
Affiliations
Jennifer Fowlie
DQMP–University of Geneva, École de Physique, 24, Quai Ernest-Ansermet, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland
Bernat Mundet
DQMP–University of Geneva, École de Physique, 24, Quai Ernest-Ansermet, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland
Constance Toulouse
Materials Research and Technology Department, Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology, 41 rue du Brill, L-4422 Belvaux, Luxembourg
Alexander Schober
Materials Research and Technology Department, Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology, 41 rue du Brill, L-4422 Belvaux, Luxembourg
Mael Guennou
Materials Research and Technology Department, Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology, 41 rue du Brill, L-4422 Belvaux, Luxembourg
Claribel Domínguez
DQMP–University of Geneva, École de Physique, 24, Quai Ernest-Ansermet, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland
Marta Gibert
Physik-Institut, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, Zurich, Switzerland
Duncan T. L. Alexander
Electron Spectrometry and Microscopy Laboratory (LSME), Institute of Physics (IPHYS), École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
Jens Kreisel
Department of Physics and Materials Science, University of Luxembourg, 41 rue du Brill, L-4422 Belvaux, Luxembourg
Jean-Marc Triscone
DQMP–University of Geneva, École de Physique, 24, Quai Ernest-Ansermet, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland
A strong coupling of the lattice to functional properties is observed in many transition metal oxide systems, such as the ABO3 perovskites. In the quest for tailor-made materials, it is essential to be able to control the structural properties of the compound(s) of interest. Here, thin film solid solutions that combine NdNiO3 and LaNiO3, two materials with the perovskite structure but distinct space groups, are analyzed. Raman spectroscopy and scanning transmission electron microscopy are combined in a synergistic approach to fully determine the mechanism of the structural crossover with chemical composition. It is found that the symmetry transition is achieved by phase coexistence in a way that depends on the substrate selected. These results carry implications for analog-tuning of physical properties in future functional materials based on these compounds.
