Influence of electron doping on the ground state of (Sr1-xLax)2IrO4

The evolution of the electronic properties of electron-doped (Sr1-x La-x)(2)IrO4 is experimentally explored as the doping limit of La is approached. As electrons are introduced, the electronic ground-state transitions from a spin-orbit Mott phase into an electronically phase separated state, where long-range magnetic order vanishes beyond x = 0.02 and charge transport remains percolative up to the limit of La substitution (x approximate to 0.06). In particular, the electronic ground state remains inhomogeneous even beyond the collapse of the parent state's longrange antiferromagnetic order, while persistent short-range magnetism survives up to the highest La-substitution levels. Furthermore, as electrons are doped into Sr2IrO4, we observe the appearance of a low-temperature magnetic glasslike state intermediate to the complete suppression of antiferromagnetic order. Universalities and differences in the electron-doped phase diagrams of single-layer and bilayer Ruddlesden-Popper strontium iridates are discussed.