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Atomic-scale observation of structural and electronic orders in the layered compound α-RuCl3

Author

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  • M. Ziatdinov

    (Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
    Institute for Functional Imaging of Materials, Oak Ridge National Laboratory)

  • A. Banerjee

    (Oak Ridge National Laboratory)

  • A. Maksov

    (Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
    Bredesen Center for Interdisciplinary Research, University of Tennessee)

  • T. Berlijn

    (Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
    Oak Ridge National Laboratory)

  • W. Zhou

    (Oak Ridge National Laboratory)

  • H. B. Cao

    (Oak Ridge National Laboratory)

  • J.-Q. Yan

    (Oak Ridge National Laboratory
    University of Tennessee)

  • C. A. Bridges

    (Oak Ridge National Laboratory)

  • D. G. Mandrus

    (Oak Ridge National Laboratory
    University of Tennessee)

  • S. E. Nagler

    (Oak Ridge National Laboratory
    Bredesen Center for Interdisciplinary Research, University of Tennessee)

  • A. P. Baddorf

    (Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
    Institute for Functional Imaging of Materials, Oak Ridge National Laboratory)

  • S. V. Kalinin

    (Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
    Institute for Functional Imaging of Materials, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
    Bredesen Center for Interdisciplinary Research, University of Tennessee)

Abstract

A pseudospin-1/2 Mott phase on a honeycomb lattice is proposed to host the celebrated two-dimensional Kitaev model which has an elusive quantum spin liquid ground state, and fascinating physics relevant to the development of future templates towards topological quantum bits. Here we report a comprehensive, atomically resolved real-space study by scanning transmission electron and scanning tunnelling microscopies on a novel layered material displaying Kitaev physics, α-RuCl3. Our local crystallography analysis reveals considerable variations in the geometry of the ligand sublattice in thin films of α-RuCl3 that opens a way to realization of a spatially inhomogeneous magnetic ground state at the nanometre length scale. Using scanning tunnelling techniques, we observe the electronic energy gap of ≈0.25 eV and intra-unit cell symmetry breaking of charge distribution in individual α-RuCl3 surface layer. The corresponding charge-ordered pattern has a fine structure associated with two different types of charge disproportionation at Cl-terminated surface.

Suggested Citation

  • M. Ziatdinov & A. Banerjee & A. Maksov & T. Berlijn & W. Zhou & H. B. Cao & J.-Q. Yan & C. A. Bridges & D. G. Mandrus & S. E. Nagler & A. P. Baddorf & S. V. Kalinin, 2016. "Atomic-scale observation of structural and electronic orders in the layered compound α-RuCl3," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-8, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:7:y:2016:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms13774
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms13774
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