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Verwey transition as evolution from electronic nematicity to trimerons via electron-phonon coupling
Wei Wang1, Jun Li1, Zhixiu Liang1
1Condensed Matter Physics and Materials Science Division, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY 11973, USA.
Science Advances
|June 9, 2023
Summary
Researchers discovered a nematic charge order in magnetite (Fe3O4) that drives the Verwey transition. This electronic nematicity, intertwined with lattice order, provides new insights into metal-insulator transitions.
Area of Science:
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Materials Science
- Solid-State Chemistry
Background:
- Metal-insulator transitions (MITs) are crucial for controlling material properties.
- The Verwey transition in magnetite (Fe3O4) has been linked to charge order since 1939, but its exact nature remains unclear.
- Previous models involving trimeron order in Fe3O4 did not fully explain the observed transition entropy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the driving mechanisms of the Verwey transition in magnetite (Fe3O4).
- To investigate the nature of charge order in the high-temperature phase of Fe3O4.
- To understand the interplay between charge and lattice orders during the transition.
Main Methods:
- Utilized electron diffraction techniques to probe the structural and electronic properties of bulk Fe3O4.
- Analyzed the high-temperature phase to identify emergent charge ordering phenomena.
- Investigated the coupling between electronic and lattice degrees of freedom.
Main Results:
- Discovered a novel nematic charge order on specific iron sites in the high-temperature phase of Fe3O4.
- Demonstrated that the Verwey transition arises from a competitive intertwining of this nematic charge order and lattice order upon cooling.
- Identified electron-phonon coupling as a key factor in the transition mechanism.
Conclusions:
- The study reveals an unconventional electronic nematicity in correlated materials.
- Provides a new understanding of the Verwey transition mechanism in Fe3O4, resolving previous discrepancies.
- Highlights the importance of coupled charge and lattice dynamics in driving MITs.
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