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Orbital occupancy and hybridization in strained  SrV O 3  epitaxial films
05 November 2021
Oxygen packaging in transition metal oxides determines the metal-oxygen hybridization and electronic occupation at metal orbitals. Strontium vanadate (SrVO3), having a single electron in a 3d orbital, is thought to be the simplest example of strongly correlated metallic oxides. Here, we determine the effects of epitaxial strain on the electronic properties of SrVO3 thin films, where the metal-oxide sublattice is corner connected.
Using x-ray absorption and x-ray linear dichroism at the VL2,3 and O K edges, it is observed that tensile or compressive epitaxial strain change the hierarchy of orbitals within the t2g and eg manifolds. Data show a remarkable 2p3d hybridization, as well as a strain-induced reordering of the V3d(t2g,eg) orbitals. The latter is itself accompanied by a consequent change of hybridization that modulates the hybrid π and σ orbitals and the carrier population at the metal ions, challenging a rigid band picture.
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Orbital occupancy and hybridization in strained SrVO3 epitaxial films


Mathieu Mirjolet,*, Hari Babu Vasili, Adrian Valadkhani, José Santiso, Vladislav Borisov, Pierluigi Gargiani, Manuel Valvidares, Roser Valentí, and Josep Fontcuberta

Phys. Rev. Materials 5, 095002 – Published 9 September 2021
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevMaterials.5.095002