这项工作提出了最详细和最广泛的理论研究反铁畸变（AFD）钙钛矿中Ruddlesden-Popper（RP）相的结构配置，并制定了一个研究计划，可以追求任何AFD钙钛矿系统的RP相。本文系统地研究了氧八面体转动对AFD钙钛矿（A_n+1 B_nO_3 n +1）（n = 1）RP相能量的影响。30，提供了n ->无穷大的渐近结果，给出了堆垛层错之间相互作用的形式和这种堆垛层错孤立的行为。我们发现一个反距离断层之间的相互作用的强度变化多达两个因素取决于配置的八面体。我们发现，这种效应的强度可以足以（a）相对于解离成本体钙钛矿和本体A-氧化物稳定RP相或使RP相不稳定，以及（b）足以影响RP相的能量尺度以约束邻近堆垛层错的八面体的旋转状态，甚至在本体区域中的八面体自由振动的温度下。最后，我们提出的证据表明，八面体旋转的重要性可以理解的RP堆垛层错的相对两侧的氧离子之间的距离的变化。
英文摘要：
This work presents the most detailed and extensive theoretical study to date of the structural configurations of Ruddlesden-Popper (RP) phases in antiferrodistortive (AFD) perovskites and formulates a program of study which can be pursued for RP phases of any AFD perovskite system. We systematically investigate the effects of oxygen octahedral rotations on the energies of RP phases in AFD perovskites (A_n+1 B_n O_3n+1) for n = 1...30, providing asymptotic results for n --> infinity that give both the form of the interaction between stacking faults and the behavior of such stacking faults in isolation. We find an inverse-distance interaction between faults with a strength which varies by as much as a factor of two depending on the configuration of the octahedra. We find that the strength of this effect can be sufficient to (a) stabilize or destabilize the RP phase with respect to dissociation into the bulk perovskite and the bulk A-oxide and (b) affect the energy scales of the RP phase sufficiently to constrain the rotational states of the octahedra neighboring the stacking faults, even at temperatures where the octahedra in the bulk regions librate freely. Finally, we present evidence that the importance of the octahedral rotations can be understood in terms of changes in the distances between oxygen ions on opposing sides of the RP stacking faults.
A "corkscrew" mechanism, that couples changes in the in-plane rotation angle to strains along the layering axis, has been proposed previously to explain increased compliance in certain Ruddlesden-Popper phases that facilitates uniaxial negative thermal expansion over a wide temperature range. Following the procedure developed to study many simple, auxetic geometries, in the present study we derive the elastic compliances predicted by this corkscrew mechanism assuming that the four shortest metal-anion bonds remain stiff and changes in bond angle are modelled by a harmonic angle potential. We s…
Li2SrNb2O7 (LSNO) crystallizes in a structure closely related to n = 2 Ruddlesden-Popper-type compounds, which is gen-erally formed by intergrowth of 2-dimensional perovskite-type blocks and rocksalt-type layers. The present study demonstrates a coexistence of spontaneous polarization and anti-ferroelectric-like nonlinear response in LSNO at 80 K, suggesting a weak ferroelectricity below the phase transition temperature of 217 K. A combination of first-principles cal-culations and single crystal x-ray diffractions clarifies a polar P21cn structure for the ground state of LSNO, where an in-plan…
We investigate the variation of the band gap across the Ruddlesden-Popper (RP) series (An+1BnX3n+1) in model chalcogenide, oxide, and halide materials to understand the factors influencing band gap evolution. In contrast to the oxides and halides, we find the band gap of the chalcogenides evolve differently with the thickness of the perovskite blocks in these natural superlattices. We show that octahedral rotations (i.e. deviation of the B-X-B bond angles from 180) and quantum confinement effects compete to decide the band gap evolution of RP phases. The insights gained here will allow us to r…
Interface control of emergent ferroic order in Ruddlesden-Popper Sr$_{n+1}$Ti$_n$O$_{3n+1}$
从第一性原理出发，我们在低n Sr $_{n+1}$ Ti $_n$ O $_{3n+1}$ Ruddlesden-Popper（RP）层状钙钛矿中发现了一种不寻常的极性态，其中铁电性几乎退化为反铁电性，这是一种相对罕见的铁电有序形式。我们发现，外延应变在调谐的“垂直相干长度”的铁电模式中起着关键作用，并不诱导铁电性在这些低维RP材料是众所周知的发生在SrTiO $_3$。这些系统提供了一个机会，操纵铁性失真的相干长度在一个可控的方式，没有混乱或自由表面。
Oxynitrides with the perovskite structure are promising candidates for photocatalysis under visible light due to their appropriate optical and electronic properties. Recently, layered perovskites have attracted attention for their improved performance with respect to the bulk perovskites in photocatalytic water splitting. In this paper, we investigate the structural and electronic properties of the layered Ruddlesden-Popper oxynitride Sr$_2$TaO$_3$N and its (001) surfaces using density functional theory (DFT) calculations. We find that the energetically favoured configuration of the bulk has a…
The temperature-dependent phase transitions in Ruddlesden-Popper oxides with perovskite bilayers have been under increased scrutiny in recent years due to the so-called hybrid improper ferroelectricity that some chemical compositions exhibit. However, little is currently understood about the hydrostatic pressure dependence of these phase transitions. Herein we present the results of a high-pressure powder synchrotron X-ray diffraction experiment and $ab~initio$ calculations on the bilayered Ruddlesden-Popper phases Ca$_{3}$Mn$_{2}$O$_{7}$ and Ca$_{3}$Ti$_{2}$O$_{7}$. In both compounds we obser…
Ruddlesden-Popper (RP) oxides (A$_{n+1}$B$_n$O$_{3n+1}$) comprised of perovskite (ABO$_3$)$_n$ slabs can host a wider variety of structural distortions than their perovskite counterparts. This makes accurate structural determination of RP oxides more challenging. In this study, we investigate the structural phase diagram of $n=1$ RP Sr$_2$SnO$_4$, one of alkaline earth stannates that are promising for opto-electronic applications by using group theory-based symmetry analysis and first-principles calculations. We explore the symmetry breaking effects of different dynamical instabilities, predic…
Exchange bias (EB) as large as ~5.5 kOe is observed in SrLaCo0.5Mn0.5O4 which is the highest ever found in any layered transition metal oxides including Ruddlesden-Popper series. Neutron diffraction measurement rules out long-range magnetic ordering and together with dc magnetic measurements suggest formation of short-range magnetic domains. AC magnetic susceptibility, magnetic memory effect and magnetic training effect confirm the system to be a cluster spin glass. By carrying out density functional calculations on several model configurations, we propose that EB is originated at the boundary…
The Ruddlesden-Popper ($A_{n+1}B_{n}\text{O}_{3n+1}$) compounds are a highly tunable class of materials whose functional properties can be dramatically impacted by their structural phase $n$. The negligible energetic differences associated with forming a sample with a single value of $n$ versus a mixture of $n$ makes the growth of these materials difficult to control and can lead to local atomic-scale structural variation arising from small stoichiometric deviations. In this work, we present a Python analysis platform to detect, measure, and quantify the presence of different $n$-phases based …
Ruddelsden-Popper halide perovskites are highly versatile quasi-two-dimensional energy materials with a wide range of tunable optoelectronic properties. Here we use the all-inorganic Cs$_{n+1}$Pb$_n$X$_{3n+1}$ Ruddelsden-Popper perovskites with X=I, Br, and Cl to systematically model the effect of octahedral tilting distortions on the energy landscape, band gaps, macroscopic polarization, and the emergence of Rashba-/Dresselhaus splitting in these materials. We construct all unique $n=1$ and $n=2$ structures following from octahedral tilts and use first-principles density functional theory to …
We analyze the electronic structure of the recently synthesized higher-order nickelate Ruddlesden-Popper phases La$_{n+1}$Ni$_n$O$_{3n+1}$ ($n=4-6$) using first-principles calculations. For all materials, our results show large holelike Fermi surfaces with $d_{x^2-y^2}$ character that closely resemble those of optimally hole-doped cuprates. For higher values of $n$, extra non-cuprate-like bands of $d_{z^2}$ orbital character appear. These aspects highlight that this Ruddlesden-Popper series can provide a means to modify the electronic ground states of nickelates by tuning their dimensionality.…
Structural phase transitions in Ruddlesden-Popper phases of strontium titanate: {\em ab initio} and inhomogeneous Ginzburg-Landau approaches
本文首次系统地{ \em ab initio}研究了钛酸锶（Sr $_{1+n}$ Ti $_n$ O $_{3n+1}$）的Ruddlesden-Popper（RP）相的反铁电畸变（AFD）序随压缩外延应变和相数$n$的变化。我们发现所有RP相在一个显着的应变范围内表现出AFD顺序，恢复散装AFD顺序为$\sim 1/n^2$。一个广义的Ginzburg-Landau哈密顿量，包括八面体间的相互作用再现我们的{ \em从头算}结果以及，打开一条途径，了解其他纳米结构的钙钛矿系统。
Stability of oxygen point defects in Ruddlesden-Popper oxides (La$_{1-x}$Sr$_{x}$)$_{2}$MO$_{4{\pm}δ}$ (M = Co, Ni, Cu) is studied with density functional theory calculations to determine their stable sites, charge states, and energetics as functions of Sr content ($x$), transition metal (M) and defect concentration (δ). We demonstrate that the dominant O point defects can change between oxide interstitials, peroxide interstitials, and vacancies. Generally, increasing $x$ and atomic number of M stabilizes peroxide over oxide interstitials, as well as vacancies over both peroxide and oxide inte…
2D Ruddlesden Popper perovskites have been extensively studied for their exceptional optical and electronic characteristics while only a few studies have shed light on their mechanical properties. The existing literature mainly discusses the mechanical strength of single crystal perovskites, however a systematic study towards structure tunability of 2D perovskite thin films is still missing. In this study, we report the effect of number of inorganic layers `n' on elastic modulus of Butylammonium based 2D, quasi-2D perovskites and 3D perovskite using nanoindentation technique. The experimental …
Perovskite chalcogenides are gaining substantial interest as an emerging class of semiconductors for optoelectronic applications. High quality samples are of vital importance to examine their inherent physical properties. We report the successful crystal growth of the model system, BaZrS$_3$ and its Ruddlesden-Popper phase Ba$_3$Zr$_2$S$_7$ by flux method. X-ray diffraction analyses showed space group of $Pnma$ with lattice constants of $a$ = 7.056(3) Å\/, $b$ = 9.962(4) Å\/, $c$ = 6.996(3) Å\/ for BaZrS$_3$ and $P4_2/mnm$ with $a$ = 7.071(2) Å\/, $b$ = 7.071(2) Å\/, $c$ = 25.418(5) Å\/ for Ba…
The electronic orbital characteristics at the band edges plays an important role in determining the electrical, optical and defect properties of perovskite photovoltaic materials. It is highly desirable to establish the relationship between the underlying atomic orbitals and the optoelectronic properties as a guide to maximize the photovoltaic performance. Here, using first-principles calculations and taking anion ordered Ruddlesden-Popper (RP) phase halide perovskites Cs$_{n+1}$Ge$_n$I$_{n+1}$Cl$_{2n}$ as an example, we demonstrate how to rationally optimize the optoelectronic properties (e.g…
Biexcitons in Ruddlesden-Popper Metal Halides Probed by Nonlinear Coherent Spectroscopy
Department of Physics and Center for Functional Materials, Wake Forest University（维克森林大学物理系与功能材料中心）；Institut Courtois, Université de Montréal（蒙特利尔大学库尔托瓦研究所）
Transition metal perovskite chalcogenides (TMPCs) are explored as stable, environmentally friendly semiconductors for solar energy conversion. They can be viewed as the inorganic alternatives to hybrid halide perovskites, and chalcogenide counterparts of perovskite oxides with desirable optoelectronic properties in the visible and infrared part of the electromagnetic spectrum. Past theoretical studies have predicted large absorption coefficient, desirable defect characteristics, and bulk photovoltaic effect in TMPCs. Despite recent progresses in polycrystalline synthesis and measurements of th…
We present a comprehensive study of the magnetic properties of Sr$_{3-x}$Y$_{x}$(Fe$_{1.25}$Ni$_{0.75}$)O$_{7-δ}$ ($0 \leq x \leq 0.75$). Experimentally, the magnetic properties are investigated using superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometry and neutron powder diffraction (NPD). This is complemented by the theoretical study based on density functional theory as well as the Heisenberg exchange parameters. Experimental results show an increase in the Néel temperature ($T_N$) with the increase of Y concentrations and O occupancy. The NPD data reveals all samples are antife…
Organic$-$inorganic hybrid Ruddlesden$-$Popper perovskites (HRPPs) have gained much attention for optoelectronic applications due to their high moisture resistance, good processibility under ambient conditions, and long functional lifetimes. Recent success in isolating molecularly thin hybrid perovskite nanosheets and their intriguing edge phenomena have raised the need for understanding the role of edges and the properties that dictate their fundamental behaviours. In this work, we perform a prototypical study on the edge effects in ultrathin hybrid perovskites by considering monolayer (BA)$_…
A series of Ruddlesden-Popper nickelates, Nd$_{n+1}$Ni$_{n}$O$_{3n+1}$ (${n}$ = 1-5), have been stabilized in thin film form using reactive molecular-beam epitaxy. High crystalline quality has been verified by X-ray diffraction and scanning transmission electron microscopy. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy indicates the ${n}$-dependent valence states of nickel in these compounds. Metal-insulator transitions show clear ${n}$ dependence for intermediate members (${n}$ = 3-5), and the low-temperature resistivities of which show logarithmic dependence, resembling the Kondo-scattering as observed i…
The development of Ruddlesden-Popper (RP) oxides as oxygen exchange and transport materials will benefit from mechanistic understanding of how oxygen transports through these materials. Using Density Functional Theory, we found there are two distinct oxygen interstitial diffusion mechanisms involving two different oxygen interstitial species that can be active in La2-xSrxNiO4+delta, and, we believe, in hyperstoichiometric RP oxides in general. The first mechanism is the previously proposed interstitialcy-mediated mechanism, which consists of diffusing oxide interstitials. The second mechanism …
Combining ferroelectricity with other properties such as visible light absorption or long-range magnetic order requires the discovery of new families of ferroelectric materials. Here, through the analysis of a high-throughput database of phonon band structures, we identify a new structural family of anti-Ruddlesden-Popper phases A$_4$X$_2$O (A=Ca, Sr, Ba, Eu, X=Sb, P, As, Bi) showing ferroelectric and anti-ferroelectric behaviors. The discovered ferroelectrics belong to the new class of hyperferroelectrics which polarize even under open-circuit boundary conditions. The polar distortion involve…
Ruddlesden-Popper (RP) phases of Ba$_{\textrm{n+1}}$Zr$_{\textrm{n}}$S$_{\textrm{3n+1}}$ (n=[1-3]) are evolved as new promising class of chalcogenide perovskites in the field of optoelectronics, especially in solar cells. However, detailed studies regarding its optical, excitonic, polaronic and transport properties are hitherto unknown. Here, we have explored the excitonic and polaronic effect in RP phases of Ba$_{\textrm{n+1}}$Zr$_{\textrm{n}}$S$_{\textrm{3n+1}}$ (n=[1-3]) using several first-principles based state-of-the-art methodologies under the framework of Many Body Perturbation Theory.…
Interest for layered Ruddlesden-Popper strongly correlated manganites of Pr$_{0.5}$Ca$_{1.5}$MnO$_4$ as well as to their thin film polymorphs is motivated by the high temperature of charge orbital ordering above room temperature. We report on the tailoring of the c-axis orientation in epitaxial RP-PCMO films grown on SrTiO$_3$ (STO) substrates with different orientations as well as the use of CaMnO$_3$ (CMO) buffer layers. Films on STO(110) reveal in-plane alignment of the c-axis lying along to the [100] direction. On STO(100), two possible directions of the in-plane c-axis lead to a mosaic li…
With the use of lattice dynamics calculation within hybrid HSE06 framework we were able to understand vibrational spectra of MAgF3 M = K, Rb, Cs compounds. Comparative theoretical study uncovered lack of monotonicity in calculated optical phonons associated with Ag F stretching modes which can be explained through an interplay of Lewis acidity of MI cation and its size. We confirm the tetragonal unit cells of MAgF3 M=Rb, Cs at room temperature. We also theoretically predict an orthorhombic RbAgF3 polymorph as a ground state at low temperature. However, we were not able to detect it by the mean…
Transition metal sulfide perovskites offer lower band gaps and greater tunability than oxides, along with other desirable properties for applications. Here we explore dimensional reduction as a tuning strategy using the Ruddlesden-Popper phases in the Ba-Zr-S system as a model. The three dimensional perovskite BaZrS$_3$ is a direct band semiconductor, with a band gap of 1.5 eV suitable for solar photovoltaic application. However, the three known members of the Ruddlesden-Popper series, are all indirect gap materials, and additionally have lower fundamental band gaps. This is accompanied in the…
2D Ferroelectric Ruddlesden-Popper Perovskites: an Emerging Fully Electronically Controllable Shift Current and Persistent Spin Helix
North University of China（中北大学）；Institute of Materials Science, Technology University of Darmstadt（达姆施塔特工业大学材料科学研究所）；School of Microelectronics, Xidian University（西安电子科技大学微电子学院）
The rare-earth nickelates possess a diverse set of collective phenomena including metal-to-insulator transitions, magnetic phase transitions, and, upon chemical reduction, superconductivity. Here, we demonstrate epitaxial stabilization of layered nickelates in the Ruddlesden-Popper form, Nd$_{n+1}$Ni$_n$O$_{3n+1}$, using molecular beam epitaxy. By optimizing the stoichiometry of the parent perovskite NdNiO$_3$, we can reproducibly synthesize the $n = 1 - 5$ member compounds. X-ray absorption spectroscopy at the O $K$ and Ni $L$ edges indicate systematic changes in both the nickel-oxygen hybrid…
Ferroelasticity in Two-Dimensional Hybrid Ruddlesden$-$Popper Perovskites Mediated by Cross-Plane Intermolecular Coupling and Metastable Funnel-Like Phases
该研究结合第一性原理与元动力学，揭示单层八面体 (BA)$_2$PbI$_4$ 的铁弹性切换由跨平面耦合及亚稳漏斗状 PE 相调控，并阐明温度与 Br 混合对势垒和相浓度的影响。
The 2D layered Ruddlesden-Popper crystal structure can host a broad range of functionally important behaviors. Here we establish extraordinary configurational disorder in a two dimensional layered Ruddlesden-Popper (RP) structure using entropy stabilization assisted synthesis. A protype A2CuO4 RP cuprate oxide with five components (La, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu) on the A-site sublattice is designed and fabricated into epitaxial single crystal films using pulsed laser deposition. By comparing (La0.2Pr0.2Nd0.2Sm0.2Eu0.2)2CuO4 crystals grown under identical conditions but different substrates, it is found t…
Turning ABO$_3$ antiferroelectrics into ferroelectrics: Design rules for practical rotation-driven ferroelectricity in double perovskites and A$_3$B$_2$O$_7$ Ruddlesden-Popper compounds
In this work, the high entropy oxide A2CuO4 Ruddlesden-Popper (La0.2Pr0.2Nd0.2Sm0.2Eu0.2)2CuO4 is explored by charge doping with Ce+4 and Sr+2 at concentrations known to induce superconductivity in the simple parent compounds, Nd2CuO4 and La2CuO4. Electron doped (La0.185Pr0.185Nd0.185Sm0.185Eu0.185Ce0.075)2CuO4 and hole doped (La0.18Pr0.18Nd0.18Sm0.18Eu0.18Sr0.1)2CuO4 are synthesized and shown to be single crystal, epitaxially strained, and highly uniform. Transport measurements demonstrate that all as-grown films are insulating regardless of doping. Annealing studies show that resistivity can…
