Thermodynamic stability of twisted domains in AgCrSe$_{2}$ thin films grown on lattice-matched YSZ(111) substrate

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Sato, Haruto, Mihara, Kota, Inamura, Kenshin, Tajima, Yusuke, Kudo, Kazutaka, Matsuno, Jobu, Shiogai, Junichi
Format: Preprint
Published: 2026
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_version_ 1866910247630667776
author Sato, Haruto
Mihara, Kota
Inamura, Kenshin
Tajima, Yusuke
Kudo, Kazutaka
Matsuno, Jobu
Shiogai, Junichi
author_facet Sato, Haruto
Mihara, Kota
Inamura, Kenshin
Tajima, Yusuke
Kudo, Kazutaka
Matsuno, Jobu
Shiogai, Junichi
contents Control of structural domains in epitaxial thin films of functional materials is a fundamental technique to utilize their intrinsic physical and chemical properties in solid-state devices. In this study, we report on suppression of twisted-domain formation in thin-film growth of polar magnetic semiconductor AgCrSe$_{2}$ using pulsed-laser deposition. In exploring concomitant optimized growth temperature and Ag/Cr composition ratio of supply, we find the critical growth temperature ($T\mathrm{_{sub}}$) for obtaining single 60$^{\circ}$ domain in c-axis oriented AgCrSe$_{2}$ thin film on a lattice-matched (111) plane of the yttria-stabilized zirconia substrate. At temperatures below and above the critical $T\mathrm{_{sub}}$, metastable 0$^{\circ}$ domain in addition to the 60$^{\circ}$ domain emerges, indicating delicate energy balance of thermodynamic stability for obtaining the single-domain structure. Surface structural analysis using time-of-flight low-energy atom scattering spectroscopy reveals the presence of two polar orientations along $+Z$ and $-Z$ directions. These findings provide valuable insights into the thin-film growth mechanisms for a family of two-dimensional compounds with rhombohedral lattices.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2605_23313
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Thermodynamic stability of twisted domains in AgCrSe$_{2}$ thin films grown on lattice-matched YSZ(111) substrate
Sato, Haruto
Mihara, Kota
Inamura, Kenshin
Tajima, Yusuke
Kudo, Kazutaka
Matsuno, Jobu
Shiogai, Junichi
Materials Science
Strongly Correlated Electrons
Control of structural domains in epitaxial thin films of functional materials is a fundamental technique to utilize their intrinsic physical and chemical properties in solid-state devices. In this study, we report on suppression of twisted-domain formation in thin-film growth of polar magnetic semiconductor AgCrSe$_{2}$ using pulsed-laser deposition. In exploring concomitant optimized growth temperature and Ag/Cr composition ratio of supply, we find the critical growth temperature ($T\mathrm{_{sub}}$) for obtaining single 60$^{\circ}$ domain in c-axis oriented AgCrSe$_{2}$ thin film on a lattice-matched (111) plane of the yttria-stabilized zirconia substrate. At temperatures below and above the critical $T\mathrm{_{sub}}$, metastable 0$^{\circ}$ domain in addition to the 60$^{\circ}$ domain emerges, indicating delicate energy balance of thermodynamic stability for obtaining the single-domain structure. Surface structural analysis using time-of-flight low-energy atom scattering spectroscopy reveals the presence of two polar orientations along $+Z$ and $-Z$ directions. These findings provide valuable insights into the thin-film growth mechanisms for a family of two-dimensional compounds with rhombohedral lattices.
title Thermodynamic stability of twisted domains in AgCrSe$_{2}$ thin films grown on lattice-matched YSZ(111) substrate
topic Materials Science
Strongly Correlated Electrons
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2605.23313