Two-dimensional (2D) van der Waals (vdW) magnetic 3d-transition metal trihalides are a new class of functional materials showing exotic physical properties useful for spintronic and memory storage applications. In this article, we report the synthesis and electromagnetic characterization of single-crystalline vanadium trichloride, VCl 3 , a novel 2D layered vdW Mott insulator, which has a rhombohedral structure (R3, No. 148) at room temperature. VCl 3 undergoes a structural phase transition at 103 K and a subsequent antiferromagnetic transition at 21.8 K. Combining core levels and valence bands x-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS) with first-principles density functional theory (DFT) calculations, we demonstrate the Mott Hubbard insulating nature of VCl 3 and the existence of electron small 2D magnetic polarons localized on V atom sites by V-Cl bond relaxation. The polarons strongly affect the electromagnetic properties of VCl 3 promoting the occupation of dispersion-less spin-polarized V-3d a1g states and band inversion with e′ g states. Within the polaronic scenario, it is possible to reconcile different experimental evidences on vanadium trihalides, suggesting that also VI 3 hosts polarons. Our results highlight the complex physical behavior of this class of crystals determined by charge trapping, lattice distortions, correlation effects, mixed valence states, and magnetic states.
Autorzy
- Dario Mastrippolito,
- Luigi Camerano,
- Hanna Świątek link otwiera się w nowej karcie ,
- Břetislav Šmíd,
- prof. dr hab. inż. Tomasz Klimczuk link otwiera się w nowej karcie ,
- Luca Ottaviano,
- Gianni Profeta
Informacje dodatkowe
- DOI
- Cyfrowy identyfikator dokumentu elektronicznego link otwiera się w nowej karcie 10.1103/physrevb.108.045126
- Kategoria
- Publikacja w czasopiśmie
- Typ
- artykuły w czasopismach
- Język
- angielski
- Rok wydania
- 2023