KSEF RDE: Two-Dimensional Confinement of Strongly Correlated and Spin-Orbit Coupled Electrons in 5d Transition-Metal Oxide Quantum-Wells

Recent studies on 5d transition-metal oxides (TMO) have revealed innovative findings in materials physics. Weak electronic correlations and simple paramagnetism were expected to govern the physics of 5d TMO due to the extended nature of 5d electrons. However, recent research on two-dimensional strontium iridium oxide crystals (Sr2IrO4) show novel Jeff = 1/2 Mott states due to strong electronic spin-orbit interactions, which are comparable to the crystal field energy. Since such strong spin-orbit couplings are also thought as the origin of topologically protected novel electronic states, so called topological insulators, studies on 5d TMO will open a new route to understanding novel electronic materials. Our goal of research is to synthesize atomic-scale synthesis of 5d TMO quantum-wells and study the physical properties of the materials. By using recently established atomic-scale material-growth systems in the PI's research laboratory at University of Kentucky (UK), we will synthesize quantum-wells of epitaxial 5d TMO such as SrIrO3 layers with wide-bandgap oxide-semiconductors and insulators. We expect that the dimensionally confined 5d electrons will show enhanced electronic correlations and novel electronic states. The structural, electronic, and magnetic properties of these new quantum-wells will be investigated by using a x-ray diffractometer, physical property measurement system, SQUID magnetometer, etc., which are located in the Center for Advanced Materials at UK. The outcome of this research project will provide indispensable insight into the physics of the 5d TMO system.