Single Crystal High Entropy Perovskite Oxide Epitaxial Films

TL;DR

This paper reports the synthesis of the first single crystal epitaxial films of a high entropy perovskite oxide, demonstrating uniform cation distribution and high crystallinity, opening new avenues for material design and fundamental studies.

Contribution

It introduces a method to synthesize single crystal high entropy perovskite oxide films with uniform cation distribution, expanding possibilities for complex material design.

Findings

Films are single phase with excellent crystallinity.

Uniform and random distribution of B-site cations confirmed.

Potential for new material design and fundamental research.

Abstract

The first examples of single crystal epitaxial thin films of a high entropy perovskite oxide are synthesized. Pulsed laser deposition is used to grow the configurationally disordered ABO3 perovskite, Ba(Zr0.2Sn0.2Ti0.2Hf0.2Nb0.2)O3, epitaxially on SrTiO3 and MgO substrates. X-ray diffraction and scanning transmission electron microscopy demonstrate that the films are single phase with excellent crystallinity and atomically abrupt interfaces to the underlying substrates. Atomically-resolved electron energy loss spectroscopy mapping shows a uniform and random distribution of all B-site cations. The ability to stabilize perovskites with this level of configurational disorder offers new possibilities for designing materials from a much broader combinatorial cation pallet while providing a fresh avenue for fundamental studies in strongly correlated quantum materials where local disorder can play a critical role in determining macroscopic properties.