Temperature-Driven Twin Structure Formation and Electronic Structure of Epitaxially Grown Mg3Sb2 Films on Mismatched Substrates

Mg3Sb2-based compounds are one type of important room-temperature thermoelectric materials and the appropriate candidate of type-II nodal line semimetals. In Mg3Sb2-based films, compelling research topics such as dimensionality reduction and topological states rely on the controllable preparation of films with high crystallinity, which remains a big challenge. In this work, high quality Mg3Sb2 films are successfully grown on mismatched substrates of sapphire (000l), while the temperature-driven twin structure evolution and characteristics of the electronic structure are revealed in the as-grown Mg3Sb2 films by in situ and ex situ measurements. The transition of layerto-island growth of Mg3Sb2 films is kinetically controlled by increasing the substrate temperature (T-sub), which is accompanied with the rational manipulation of twin structure and epitaxial strains. Twin-free structure could be acquired in the Mg3Sb2 film grown at a low T-sub of 573 K, while the formation of twin structure is significantly promoted by elevating the T-sub and annealing, in close relation to the processes of strain relaxation and enhanced mass transfer. Measurements of scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STS) and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) elucidate the intrinsic p-type conduction of Mg3Sb2 films and a bulk band gap of similar to 0.89 eV, and a prominent Fermi level downshift of similar to 0.2 eV could be achieved by controlling the film growth parameters. As elucidated in this work, the effective manipulation of the epitaxial strains, twin structure and Fermi level is instructive and beneficial for the further exploration and optimization of thermoelectric and topological properties of Mg3Sb2-based films.

Automated summary

This study successfully grew high quality Mg3Sb2 films on mismatched substrates and investigated the temperature-driven twin structure evolution and electronic structure characteristics. Effective manipulation of epitaxial strains, twin structure, and Fermi level was achieved by controlling the growth parameters, providing valuable insights for the further exploration and optimization of the thermoelectric and topological properties of Mg3Sb2 films.