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Microstrain sensitivity of orbital and electronic phase separation in SrCrO3
Luis Ortega-San-Martin1, Anthony J Williams, Jennifer Rodgers
1Centre for Science at Extreme Conditions and School of Chemistry, King's Buildings, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3JZ, United Kingdom.
Physical Review Letters
|February 1, 2008
Summary
Strontium chromate (SrCrO3) exhibits an orbital ordering transition, leading to distinct electronic phases. Lattice strain influences this transition, separating competing electronic phases in the material.
Area of Science:
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Materials Science
- Solid-State Chemistry
Background:
- SrCrO3 is a cubic, orbitally-degenerate perovskite material.
- Understanding electronic phase transitions and orbital ordering is crucial for developing novel electronic materials.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the orbital ordering transition in SrCrO3.
- To explore the coexistence of electronic phases and the role of lattice strain.
Main Methods:
- Experimental characterization of SrCrO3.
- X-ray measurements to analyze structural and electronic properties.
- Temperature-dependent magnetic susceptibility measurements.
Main Results:
- A transition from a cubic to a tetragonal phase with partial orbital order was observed.
- The tetragonal phase exhibits antiferromagnetism below 35-40 K, while the cubic phase remains paramagnetic.
- Orbital ordering temperature and phase coexistence are highly sensitive to lattice strain.
Conclusions:
- Lattice strain drives the separation of competing electronic phases in SrCrO3.
- Microstrain fluctuations are sufficient to induce long-range separation of electronic phases in undoped cubic oxides.
- SrCrO3 serves as a model system for studying strain-induced electronic phase separation.
