Ferroelectric-like Structural Transition Research Articles

Magnetically driven loss of centrosymmetry in metallic Pb2CoOsO6

We report magnetic, transport, neutron diffraction, and muon spin rotation data showing that Pb$_2$CoOsO$_6$, a newly synthesized metallic double-perovskite with a centrosymmetric space group at room temperature, exhibits a continuous second-order phase transition at 45 K to a magnetically ordered state with a non-centrosymmetric space group. The absence of inversion symmetry is very uncommon in metals, particularly metallic oxides. In contrast to the recently reported ferroelectric-like structural transition in LiOsO$_3$, the phase transition in Pb$_2$CoOsO$_6$ is driven by a long-range collinear antiferromagnetic order, with propagation vector $\textbf{k} = (\frac{1}{2},0,\frac{1}{2})$, which relieves the frustration associated with the symmetry of themagnetic exchanges. This magnetically-driven loss of inversion symmetry represents a new frontier in the search for novel metallic behavior.

Superconductivity at the Polar-Nonpolar Phase Boundary of SnP with an Unusual Valence State.

Structural, magnetic, and electrical characterizations reveal that SnP with an unusual valence state (nominally Sn^{3+}) undergoes a ferroelectriclike structural transition from a simple NaCl-type structure to a polar tetragonal structure at approximately 250K at ambient pressure. First-principles calculations indicate that the experimentally observed tetragonal distortion enhances the charge transfer from Sn to P, thereby making the polar tetragonal phase energetically more stable than the nonpolar cubic phase. Hydrostatic pressure is found to promptly suppress the structural phase transition in SnP, leading to the emergence of bulk superconductivity in a phase-competitive manner. These findings suggest that control of ferroelectriclike instability in a metal can be a promising way for creating novel superconductors.

Raman phonons in the ferroelectric-like metalLiOsO3

The novel ferroelectric-like structural transition observed in metallic LiOsO$_3$ [Y. Shi et al., Nat. Mater. 12, 1024 (2013)], has invoked many theoretical and experimental interests. In this work, we have performed polarized and temperature-dependent Raman scattering measurements on high-quality single crystal LiOsO$_3$ and identified Raman-active modes in both centrosymmetric phase (300 K, R$\bar{3}$c) and non-centrosymmetric phase (10 K, R3c). Only four phonon peaks are observed in the former phase, while there are twelve peaks in the latter phase because of the reduction of crystal symmetry. With the help of careful symmetry analysis and first-principles calculations, we can make a systematic assignment for the observed Raman modes in both phases. The significant changes in line-width and the continuous evolution of Raman frequencies with temperatures were observed for the E$_g$ modes around the transition temperature, which suggests that the ferroelectric-like structural transition is a continuous order-disorder transition. The result sheds light on the coexistence of ferroelectricity and metallicity in the compound.

Origin of polar distortion inLiNbO3-type “ferroelectric” metals: Role ofA-site instability and short-range interactions

Since conduction electrons of a metal screen effectively the local electric dipole moments, it was widely believed that the ferroelectric-like distortion cannot occur in metals. Recently, metallic LiOsO3, was discovered to be the first clear-cut example of an Anderson-Blount "ferroelectric" metal, which at 140 K undergoes a ferroelectric-like structural transition similar to insulating LiNbO3. This is very surprising because the mechanisms for structural phase transitions are usually quite distinct in metals and insulators. Through performing first principles calculations, here we reveal that the local polar distortion in LiOsO3 is solely due to the instability of the A-site Li atom, in contrast to the LiNbO3 case where the second order Jahn-Teller effect of the B-site Nb ion also plays an additional role. More importantly, the "ferroelectric"-like long range order of the local polar distortion is found to be due to the predominantly ferroelectric short-range pair interactions between the local polar modes which are not screened by conduction electrons. Furthermore, we predict that LiNbO3-type MgReO3 is also a "ferroelectric" metal, but with a much higher structural transition temperature by 391 K than LiOsO3. Our work not only unravels the origin of FE-like distortion in LiNbO3-type "ferroelectric" metals, but also provides clue for designing other multi-functional "ferroelectric" metals.

First-principles study of octahedral tilting and ferroelectric-like transition in metallicLiOsO3

The octahedral tilting and ferroelectric-like structural transition of LiOsO3 metallic perovskite [Nature Materials 12, 1024 (2013)] was examined using first-principles density-functional theory. In LiOsO3, a-a-a- octahedral titling mode is responsible for the cubic to rhombohedral structural transition, which is stable phase at room temperature. At low temperatures, a non-centrosymmetric transition to a rhombohedra phase was realized due to zone center phonon softening. The phase transition behavior of LiOsO3 can be explained fully by density functional calculations and phonon calculations. The electronic structure and Fermi surface changes due to the electron lattice coupling effect are also presented. The carrier density of state across the phase transition is associated with the resistivity, heat capacity, and susceptibility.

Ferroelectric-like structural transition in metallic LiOsO3

It is assumed that ferroelectric behaviour only appears in the materials with an energy gap. However, a ferroelectric-like structural transition has been experimentally explored in metallic LiOsO3 [Nature Materials 12, 1024 (2013)]. In this paper, we investigate the possible origin of a ferroelectric-like transition and its effect on the electronic structure through theoretical simulations. By performing first-principles calculations, we found that the topologically compact structures formed by strong Os–O bonds forces Li ions to be displaced, which is responsible for the ferroelectric-like structural transition. Our calculations also indicate that the chemical valence should be Lin+[OsO3]n−, where n < 1. Furthermore, the intrinsic electric dipoles induced by the ion displacement are spontaneously screened by the remanent electrons of Li ions. Thus, the explored mechanism of the ferroelectric-like transition in metallic LiOsO3 may help develop other ferroelectric materials.

A ferroelectric-like structural transition in a metal

Metals cannot exhibit ferroelectricity because static internal electric fields are screened by conduction electrons, but in 1965, Anderson and Blount predicted the possibility of a ferroelectric metal, in which a ferroelectric-like structural transition occurs in the metallic state. Up to now, no clear example of such a material has been identified. Here we report on a centrosymmetric (R-3c) to non-centrosymmetric (R3c) transition in metallic LiOsO3 that is structurally equivalent to the ferroelectric transition of LiNbO3. The transition involves a continuous shift in the mean position of Li+ ions on cooling below 140K. Its discovery realizes the scenario described by Anderson and Blount, and establishes a new class of materials whose properties may differ from those of normal metals.

'Ferroelectricity' in a metal

The discovery of a ferroelectric-like structural transition in metallic LiOsO3 identifies a new class of materials with unconventional properties, providing an exotic playground for theorists and experimentalists.