Semi-metallic SrIrO3 films using solid-source metal-organic molecular beam epitaxy

Perovskite SrIrO3 films and its heterostructures are very promising, yet less researched, avenues to explore interesting physics originating from the interplay between strong spin-orbit coupling and electron correlations. Elemental iridium is a commonly used source for molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) synthesis of SrIrO3 films. However, elemental iridium is extremely difficult to oxidize and evaporate while maintaining an ultra-high vacuum and a long mean free path. Here, we calculated a thermodynamic phase diagram to highlight these synthesis challenges for phase-pure SrIrO3 and other iridium-based oxides. We addressed these challenges using a novel solid-source metal-organic MBE approach that rests on the idea of modifying the metal-source chemistry. Phase-pure, single-crystalline, coherent, epitaxial (001)(pc) SrIrO3 films on (001) SrTiO3 substrate were grown. Films demonstrated semi-metallic behavior, Kondo scattering, and weak antilocalization. Our synthesis approach has the potential to facilitate research involving iridate heterostructures by enabling their atomically precise syntheses. (C) 2022 Author(s).

Automated summary

Perovskite SrIrO3 films and their heterostructures have great potential for exploring interesting physics resulting from the interaction between strong spin-orbit coupling and electron correlations. However, the synthesis of pure-phase SrIrO3 films using elemental iridium as a source presents challenges. In this study, we propose a novel solid-source metal-organic MBE approach to address these challenges and successfully grow phase-pure SrIrO3 films with unique physical properties.