Electronic properties of ultra-thin YCrO3 films

TL;DR

This study investigates the electronic structure of ultra-thin YCrO3 films, revealing an unusual orbital polarization linked to multiferroicity through advanced spectroscopy and theoretical calculations.

Contribution

It presents the first detailed analysis of the electronic structure of ultra-thin YCrO3 films, highlighting the role of charge transfer and correlations in their orbital polarization.

Findings

Discovery of anomalous orbital polarization in YCrO3 films

Identification of key electronic interactions stabilizing the polarized state

Connection between orbital polarization and multiferroic properties

Abstract

We report on the heteroepitaxial stabilization of YCrO3 ultra-thin films on LSAT (001) substrate. Using a combination of resonant X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and atomic multiplet cluster calculation, the electronic structure of YCrO3 thin film was investigated. Polarization dependent Cr L3,2 edge XAS measurement reveal the presence of an anomalous orbital polarization uncharacteristic of a 3d3 electronic system. Atomic multiplet calculations demonstrate the critical importance of charge transfer energy, Coulomb correlation strength and hopping interaction in stabilizing this unusual orbital polarized state likely connected to the bulk multiferroicity.