Thermal decomposition of the Kitaev material α−RuCl3 and its influence on low-temperature behavior

  • We explore the effect of heat treatment in argon atmosphere under various temperatures up to 500∘C on single crystals of α−RuCl3 by the study of the mass loss, microprobe energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, powder x-ray diffraction, and electrical resistance, as well as low-temperature magnetic susceptibility and specific heat. Clear signatures of dechlorination and oxidation of Ru appear for annealing temperatures beyond 300∘C. Analysis of the specific heat below 2 K reveals a RuO2 mass fraction of order 1% for pristine α−RuCl3 which increases up to 20% after thermal annealing, fully consistent with mass-loss analysis. The small RuO2 inclusions drastically reduce the global electrical resistance and may thus significantly affect low-temperature thermal transport and Hall effect.

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Metadaten
Author:Franziska A. Breitner, Anton JescheORCiDGND, Vladimir TsurkanORCiDGND, Philipp GegenwartORCiDGND
URN:urn:nbn:de:bvb:384-opus4-1058617
Frontdoor URLhttps://opus.bibliothek.uni-augsburg.de/opus4/105861
ISSN:2469-9950OPAC
ISSN:2469-9969OPAC
Parent Title (English):Physical Review B
Publisher:American Physical Society (APS)
Place of publication:College Park, MD
Type:Article
Language:English
Year of first Publication:2023
Publishing Institution:Universität Augsburg
Release Date:2023/07/11
Volume:108
Issue:4
First Page:045103
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevb.108.045103
Institutes:Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftlich-Technische Fakultät
Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftlich-Technische Fakultät / Institut für Physik
Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftlich-Technische Fakultät / Institut für Physik / Lehrstuhl für Experimentalphysik V
Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftlich-Technische Fakultät / Institut für Physik / Lehrstuhl für Experimentalphysik VI
Dewey Decimal Classification:5 Naturwissenschaften und Mathematik / 53 Physik / 530 Physik
Licence (German):Deutsches Urheberrecht