Phase coexistence and dynamical behavior in NdNiO3 ultrathin films

Ali M. Alsaqqa, Sujay Singh, S. Middey, M. Kareev, J. Chakhalian, and G. Sambandamurthy
Phys. Rev. B 95, 125132 – Published 27 March 2017

Abstract

Rare-earth nickelates exhibit several temperature-driven phase transitions that are tunable by the size of the rare-earth ions, pressure, epitaxial strain in ultrathin films, etc. We investigate the metal-insulator and Neel transitions in a series of NdNiO3 thin films with varying degrees of lattice mismatch using ultralow frequency electrical noise measurements. The noise magnitude follows a 1/f  behavior and is Gaussian in the high temperature paramagnetic metallic phase of the films, however deviations are seen in the low temperature paramagnetic and antiferromagnetic insulating phases. The noise magnitude increases by orders of magnitude at temperatures below the metal-insulator transition and is indicative of inhomogeneous electrical conduction arising from phase separation. The inhomogeneous nature of conduction is corroborated by the presence of a large non-Gaussian noise signature in the low temperature phases. Well below the Neel temperature, the noise behavior evolves between Gaussian and non-Gaussian over several hours pointing to dynamically competing ground states with subtle variations within the antiferromagnetic insulating phase.

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  • Received 6 May 2016
  • Revised 1 February 2017

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.95.125132

©2017 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Condensed Matter, Materials & Applied Physics

Authors & Affiliations

Ali M. Alsaqqa1, Sujay Singh1, S. Middey2,*, M. Kareev2,†, J. Chakhalian2,†, and G. Sambandamurthy1

  • 1Department of Physics, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, New York 14260, USA
  • 2Department of Physics, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701, USA

  • *Present address: Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560 012, India.
  • Present address: Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA.

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Issue

Vol. 95, Iss. 12 — 15 March 2017

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