Correlated electron physics near a site-selective pressure-induced Mott transition in α-LiFe5O8

Samar Layek, Eran Greenberg, Davide Levy, Vitali Prakapenka, Siddharth S. Saxena, Gregory Kh Rozenberg

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The Mott insulator-to-metal transition (IMT) driven by electron correlations has been among the main research topics in materials science over the past decades. The complex interplay between electronic and lattice degrees of freedom leads to various transition scenarios. Of particular interest may be the case of a transition involving the formation of complex phases comprising regions that differ significantly in their physical properties within the same material. Here, we present the results that advance the understanding of the IMT phenomenon, offering the documentation of a pure site-selective mechanism that is not complicated by any structural and spin transformation. Combining XRD, resistivity, Mössbauer and Raman spectroscopy measurements, we provide evidence for a pure pressure-induced Mott transition in α-LiFe5O8, characterized by site-selective delocalization of electrons, leading to the formation, above ~65 GPa, of a site-selective Mott phase consisting of metallic and insulating sublattices. We note that the electron delocalization in the partially disordered octahedral sublattice cannot be understood purely in terms of a Mott transition, the Anderson-Mott transition picture seems more adequate.

Original languageEnglish
Article number155
JournalCommunications Materials
Volume5
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2024
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2024.

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Correlated electron physics near a site-selective pressure-induced Mott transition in α-LiFe5O8'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this