Proton distribution visualization in perovskite nickelate devices utilizing nanofocused X-rays

We use a 30-nm x-ray beam to study the spatially resolved properties of a SmNiO\(_3\)-based nanodevice that is doped with protons. The x-ray absorption spectra supported by density-functional theory (DFT) simulations show partial reduction of nickel valence in the region with high proton concentrati...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:arXiv.org 2021-08
Main Authors: Zaluzhnyy, Ivan A, Sprau, Peter O, Tran, Richard, Wang, Qi, Hai-Tian, Zhang, Zhang, Zhen, Park, Tae Joon, Nelson, Hua, Stoychev, Boyan, Cherukara, Mathew J, Holt, Martin V, Nazarertski, Evgeny, Huang, Xiaojing, Yan, Hanfei, Pattammattel, Ajith, Chu, Yong S, Ong, Shyue Ping, Ramanathan, Shriram, Shpyrko, Oleg G, Frano, Alex
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Absorption spectra
Crystal lattices
Crystal structure
Density functional theory
Electronic properties
Insulators
Nanotechnology devices
Perovskites
Phase transitions
Protons
X ray absorption
X-rays
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Summary:We use a 30-nm x-ray beam to study the spatially resolved properties of a SmNiO\(_3\)-based nanodevice that is doped with protons. The x-ray absorption spectra supported by density-functional theory (DFT) simulations show partial reduction of nickel valence in the region with high proton concentration, which leads to the insulating behavior. Concurrently, x-ray diffraction reveals only a small lattice distortion in the doped regions. Together, our results directly show that the knob which proton doping modifies is the electronic valency, and not the crystal lattice. The studies are relevant to on-going efforts to disentangle structural and electronic effects across metal-insulator phase transitions in correlated oxides.
ISSN:2331-8422
DOI:10.48550/arxiv.2108.06439