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Spark Plasma Sintering Apparatus Used for the Formation of Strontium Titanate Bicrystals
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Optically Induced Three-Stage Picosecond Amorphization in Low-Temperature SrTiO3
Thomas Linker1, Subodh Tiwari1, Shogo Fukushima2
1Collaboratory for Advanced Computing and Simulations, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089-0242, United States.
The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters
|October 30, 2020
Summary
Photoexcitation induces rapid amorphization in strontium titanate (SrTiO3) by triggering a three-stage process. This discovery offers insights into laser nanostructuring and quantum materials development.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Quantum Chemistry
Background:
- Photoexcitation alters material properties, enabling access to novel phases.
- Strontium titanate (SrTiO3) is crucial for nanodevices and exhibits diverse lattice dynamics.
- Previous studies demonstrated weak excitation accessing ferroelectric phases and strong excitation inducing surface nanostructures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the dynamic pathways of optically induced structural changes in photoexcited SrTiO3.
- To understand the atomistic mechanisms behind laser-induced amorphization in SrTiO3.
Main Methods:
- Nonadiabatic quantum molecular dynamics simulations.
- Investigation of photoinduced charge transfer and phonon dynamics.
- Analysis of nonlinear charge and lattice interactions.
Main Results:
- Picosecond amorphization observed in photoexcited SrTiO3, even at low temperatures (10 K).
- A three-stage pathway identified: photoinduced charge transfer/phonon activation, followed by nonlinear dynamics leading to amorphization.
- Detailed atomistic understanding of the amorphization process.
Conclusions:
- The study reveals the fundamental mechanism of laser-induced amorphization in SrTiO3.
- Findings can guide rational laser nanostructuring of SrTiO3.
- Provides a foundation for "quantum materials on demand" technologies.
