Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 28, 2026

Bulk and Thin Film Synthesis of Compositionally Variant Entropy-stabilized Oxides
Published on: May 29, 2018
Asymmetric orbital-lattice interactions in ultrathin correlated oxide films
J Chakhalian1, J M Rondinelli, Jian Liu
1Department of Physics, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas 70701, USA. jchakhal@uark.edu
Abstract:
Using resonant x-ray spectroscopies combined with density functional calculations, we find an asymmetric biaxial strain-induced d-orbital response in ultrathin films of the correlated metal LaNiO3 which are not accessible in the bulk. The sign of the misfit strain governs the stability of an octahedral "breathing" distortion, which, in turn, produces an emergent charge-ordered ground state with an altered ligand-hole density and bond covalency. Control of this new mechanism opens a pathway to rational orbital engineering, providing a platform for artificially designed Mott materials.
Related Concept Videos
Trends in Lattice Energy: Ion Size and Charge
Lattice Energies of Ionic Crystals
Crystal Field Theory - Octahedral Complexes
To explain the observed behavior of transition metal complexes (such as colors), a model involving electrostatic interactions between the electrons from the ligands and the electrons in the unhybridized d orbitals of the central metal atom has been developed. This electrostatic model is crystal field theory (CFT). It helps to understand, interpret, and predict the colors, magnetic behavior, and some structures of coordination compounds of transition metals.
CFT focuses on...
Valence Bond Theory
MO Theory and Covalent Bonding
Van der Waals Interactions

