In-gap states and strain-tuned band convergence in layered structure trivalent iridate K0.75Na0.25IrO2

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Gong, Xujia, Autieri, Carmine, Zhou, Huanfu, Ma, Jiafeng, Tang, Xin, Zheng, Xiaojun, Ming, Xing
Format: Preprint
Published: 2019
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author Gong, Xujia
Autieri, Carmine
Zhou, Huanfu
Ma, Jiafeng
Tang, Xin
Zheng, Xiaojun
Ming, Xing
author_facet Gong, Xujia
Autieri, Carmine
Zhou, Huanfu
Ma, Jiafeng
Tang, Xin
Zheng, Xiaojun
Ming, Xing
contents Iridium oxides (iridates) provide a good platform to study the delicate interplay between spin-orbit coupling (SOC) interactions, electron correlation effects, Hund's coupling and lattice degree of freedom. However, overwhelming investigations primarily focus on tetravalent (Ir4+, 5d5) and pentavalent (Ir5+, 5d4) iridates, far less attention has been paid to iridates with other valence states. Here, we pay our attention to a less-explored trivalent (Ir3+, 5d6) iridates, K0.75Na0.25IrO2, crystalizing in a triangular lattice with edge-sharing IrO6 octahedra and alkali metal ions intercalated [IrO2]- layers. We theoretically determine the preferred occupied positions of the alkali metal ions from energetic viewpoints and reproduce the experimentally observed semiconducting behavior and nonmagnetic (NM) properties. The SOC interactions play a critical role in the band dispersion, resulting in NM Jeff = 0 states. More intriguingly, our electronic structure not only uncovers the presence of in-gap states and explains the abnormal low activation energy in K0.75Na0.25IrO2, but also predicts the band edge can be effectively modulated by mechanical strain. Especially, the in-gap states feature with enhanced band-convergence characteristics by 6% compressive strain, which will greatly enhance the electrical conductivity of K0.75Na0.25IrO2. Present work sheds new lights on the unconventional electronic structures of the trivalent iridates, indicating its promising application as nanoelectronic and thermoelectric material.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_1909_04562
institution arXiv
publishDate 2019
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle In-gap states and strain-tuned band convergence in layered structure trivalent iridate K0.75Na0.25IrO2
Gong, Xujia
Autieri, Carmine
Zhou, Huanfu
Ma, Jiafeng
Tang, Xin
Zheng, Xiaojun
Ming, Xing
Strongly Correlated Electrons
Iridium oxides (iridates) provide a good platform to study the delicate interplay between spin-orbit coupling (SOC) interactions, electron correlation effects, Hund's coupling and lattice degree of freedom. However, overwhelming investigations primarily focus on tetravalent (Ir4+, 5d5) and pentavalent (Ir5+, 5d4) iridates, far less attention has been paid to iridates with other valence states. Here, we pay our attention to a less-explored trivalent (Ir3+, 5d6) iridates, K0.75Na0.25IrO2, crystalizing in a triangular lattice with edge-sharing IrO6 octahedra and alkali metal ions intercalated [IrO2]- layers. We theoretically determine the preferred occupied positions of the alkali metal ions from energetic viewpoints and reproduce the experimentally observed semiconducting behavior and nonmagnetic (NM) properties. The SOC interactions play a critical role in the band dispersion, resulting in NM Jeff = 0 states. More intriguingly, our electronic structure not only uncovers the presence of in-gap states and explains the abnormal low activation energy in K0.75Na0.25IrO2, but also predicts the band edge can be effectively modulated by mechanical strain. Especially, the in-gap states feature with enhanced band-convergence characteristics by 6% compressive strain, which will greatly enhance the electrical conductivity of K0.75Na0.25IrO2. Present work sheds new lights on the unconventional electronic structures of the trivalent iridates, indicating its promising application as nanoelectronic and thermoelectric material.
title In-gap states and strain-tuned band convergence in layered structure trivalent iridate K0.75Na0.25IrO2
topic Strongly Correlated Electrons
url https://arxiv.org/abs/1909.04562