Control of Octahedral Rotations and Physical Properties in SrRuO3 Perovskite Oxide Films

Abstract

Transition metal oxides of ABO3 perovskite class encompass a huge variety of compounds and have attracted broad attentions due to their unique physical properties. It has long been known that rotations of corner-shared BO6 octahedra play an important role in determining the physical properties of perovskite materials. Recent discoveries of rotation-driven rotomagnetization and improper ferroelectricity inspire a search for novel phases stabilized by octahedral rotations. However, rational control over the octahedral rotations experimentaly is still rarely reported. In this work, we have demonstrated the ability to control octahedral rotations in SrRuO3 films through three emerging paths ? introducing oxygen vacancies, interfacial coupling, and strain engineering. The close relationship between the octahedral rotations and physical properties is also discussed in detail. These routes may be also applied to a broad range of other oxides with perovskite or perovskite-related structure and thus should significantly promote the advances in designing novel functional phases in perovskite films.