Striped nanoscale phase separation at the metal-insulator transition of heteroepitaxial nickelates

Journal article (2016)

Authors

G. Mattoni Kavli institute of nanoscience Delft, QN/Caviglia Lab - AS
P Zubko University College London
J.M. Aarts Universiteit Leiden
J. M. Triscone University of Geneva
S. S. Dhesi Diamond Light Source
A. Caviglia Kavli institute of nanoscience Delft, QN/Caviglia Lab - AS
F. Maccherozzi Diamond Light Source
A. J H Van Der Torren Universiteit Leiden
D. B. Boltje Universiteit Leiden
M. Hadjimichael University College London
N. Manca QN/Caviglia Lab - AS , Kavli institute of nanoscience Delft
S. Catalano University of Geneva
M. Gibert University of Geneva
Y Liu Diamond Light Source
Research Group
QN/Caviglia Lab (AS) (TU Delft)
Copyright: © 2016 G. Mattoni, P. Zubko, F. Maccherozzi, A. J H Van Der Torren, D. B. Boltje, M. Hadjimichael, N. Manca, S. Catalano, M. Gibert, Y Liu, J.M. Aarts, J. M. Triscone, S. S. Dhesi, A. Caviglia
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms13141
More Info
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Published Date

02-11-2016

Language

English

Faculty

Applied Sciences

Department

QN/Quantum Nanoscience

Research Group

QN/Caviglia Lab

Abstract

Nucleation processes of mixed-phase states are an intrinsic characteristic of first-order phase transitions, typically related to local symmetry breaking. Direct observation of emerging mixed-phase regions in materials showing a first-order metal-insulator transition (MIT) offers unique opportunities to uncover their driving mechanism. Using photoemission electron microscopy, we image the nanoscale formation and growth of insulating domains across the temperature-driven MIT in NdNiO3 epitaxial thin films. Heteroepitaxy is found to strongly determine the nanoscale nature of the phase transition, inducing preferential formation of striped domains along the terraces of atomically flat stepped surfaces. We show that the distribution of transition temperatures is a local property, set by surface morphology and stable across multiple temperature cycles. Our data provide new insights into the MIT of heteroepitaxial nickelates and point to a rich, nanoscale phenomenology in this strongly correlated material.