Epitaxial synthesis and physical properties of double-perovskite oxide Sr2CoRuO6 thin films

• Published in: Journal of physics. Condensed matter Vol. 28; no. 43; p. 436005
• Main Authors: Watarai, K, Yoshimatsu, K, Horiba, K, Kumigashira, H, Sakata, O, Ohtomo, A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England IOP Publishing 02.11.2016
• Subjects: double-perovskite oxides; magnetic properties; thin films; x-ray diffraction
• ISSN: 0953-8984; 1361-648X
• DOI: 10.1088/0953-8984/28/43/436005

We report epitaxial structures and physical properties of double-perovskite Sr2CoRuO6 films grown using pulsed-laser deposition. Samples with a degree of Co/Ru order of 2-73% were obtained by changing growth temperature. X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) on the highest ordered sample revealed that Co ions were trivalent with a high-spin configuration and Ru ions were pentavalent. We found large differences in magnetization and resistivity between the highest and lowest ordered samples as well as the absence of strong magnetism and metallicity, which are common characteristics of SrCoO3 and SrRuO3. Using resonant photoemission spectroscopy and XAS, dominant d-orbital components at the top of the occupied state (the bottom of the unoccupied state) were identified to be Ru 4d t2g (Co 3d and Ru 4d t2g). These results suggest that the ground state of double-perovskite Sr2CoRuO6 is a ferrimagnetic insulator.