Spin-Orbit Semimetal SrIrO3 in the Two-Dimensional Limit
D. J. Groenendijk (TU Delft - QN/Caviglia Lab, Kavli institute of nanoscience Delft)
C. Autieri (Istituto superconduttori, materiali innovativi e dispositivi, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche)
J. Girovsky (TU Delft - QN/Otte Lab, Kavli institute of nanoscience Delft)
M. Carmen Martinez-Velarte (TU Delft - QN/Otte Lab, Kavli institute of nanoscience Delft)
N. Manca (Kavli institute of nanoscience Delft, TU Delft - QN/Caviglia Lab)
G. Mattoni (TU Delft - QN/Caviglia Lab, Kavli institute of nanoscience Delft)
Ana M R V L Monteiro (Kavli institute of nanoscience Delft, TU Delft - QN/Caviglia Lab)
N. Gauquelin (Universiteit Antwerpen)
J Verbeeck (Universiteit Antwerpen)
A. F. Otte (Kavli institute of nanoscience Delft, TU Delft - QN/Otte Lab)
M. Gabay (Université Paris-Saclay)
S. Picozzi (Istituto superconduttori, materiali innovativi e dispositivi, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche)
A. D. Caviglia (Kavli institute of nanoscience Delft, TU Delft - QN/Caviglia Lab)
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Abstract
We investigate the thickness-dependent electronic properties of ultrathin SrIrO3 and discover a transition from a semimetallic to a correlated insulating state below 4 unit cells. Low-temperature magnetoconductance measurements show that spin fluctuations in the semimetallic state are significantly enhanced while approaching the transition point. The electronic properties are further studied by scanning tunneling spectroscopy, showing that 4 unit cell SrIrO3 is on the verge of a gap opening. Our density functional theory calculations reproduce the critical thickness of the transition and show that the opening of a gap in ultrathin SrIrO3 requires antiferromagnetic order.
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