文章基本信息

标题：Dimensionality Control of d-orbital Occupation in Oxide Superlattices
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作者：Da Woon Jeong ; Woo Seok Choi ; Satoshi Okamoto 等
期刊名称：Scientific Reports
电子版ISSN：2045-2322
出版年度：2014
卷号：4
DOI：10.1038/srep06124
出版社：Springer Nature
摘要：Manipulating the orbital state in a strongly correlated electron system is of fundamental and technological importance for exploring and developing novel electronic phases. Here, we report an unambiguous demonstration of orbital occupancy control between t _{2 g} and e_g multiplets in quasi-two-dimensional transition metal oxide superlattices (SLs) composed of a Mott insulator LaCoO₃ and a band insulator LaAlO₃. As the LaCoO₃ sublayer thickness approaches its fundamental limit (i.e. one unit-cell-thick), the electronic state of the SLs changed from a Mott insulator, in which both t _{2 g} and e_g orbitals are partially filled, to a band insulator by completely filling (emptying) the t _{2 g} ( e_g ) orbitals. We found the reduction of dimensionality has a profound effect on the electronic structure evolution, which is, whereas, insensitive to the epitaxial strain. The remarkable orbital controllability shown here offers a promising pathway for novel applications such as catalysis and photovoltaics, where the energy of d level is an essential parameter.