Striped nanoscale phase separation at the metal-insulator transition of heteroepitaxial nickelates
G. Mattoni (Kavli institute of nanoscience Delft, TU Delft - QN/Caviglia Lab)
P. Zubko (University College London)
F. Maccherozzi (Diamond Light Source)
A. J H Van Der Torren (Universiteit Leiden)
D. B. Boltje (Universiteit Leiden)
M. Hadjimichael (University College London)
N. Manca (TU Delft - QN/Caviglia Lab, Kavli institute of nanoscience Delft)
S. Catalano (University of Geneva)
M. Gibert (University of Geneva)
Y Liu (Diamond Light Source)
J.M. Aarts (Universiteit Leiden)
J. M. Triscone (University of Geneva)
SS Dhesi (Diamond Light Source)
A. D. Caviglia (Kavli institute of nanoscience Delft, TU Delft - QN/Caviglia Lab)
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Abstract
Nucleation processes of mixed-phase states are an intrinsic characteristic of first-order phase transitions, typically related to local symmetry breaking. Direct observation of emerging mixed-phase regions in materials showing a first-order metal-insulator transition (MIT) offers unique opportunities to uncover their driving mechanism. Using photoemission electron microscopy, we image the nanoscale formation and growth of insulating domains across the temperature-driven MIT in NdNiO3 epitaxial thin films. Heteroepitaxy is found to strongly determine the nanoscale nature of the phase transition, inducing preferential formation of striped domains along the terraces of atomically flat stepped surfaces. We show that the distribution of transition temperatures is a local property, set by surface morphology and stable across multiple temperature cycles. Our data provide new insights into the MIT of heteroepitaxial nickelates and point to a rich, nanoscale phenomenology in this strongly correlated material.