Scientific Achievement
A novel flux enabled the growth of single crystals of the suboxides R5Pb3O, which are found to host an electron-phonon coupling driven charge density wave (CDW). Strongly ellipsoidal thermal displacements of La atoms are identified as a signature of phonon softening.
Significance and Impact
This work identifies a new model system to study electron-phonon coupling driven phase transitions. The synthetic procedure introduces a novel flux for discovery and crystal growth of subvalent quantum materials.
Research Details
- Identified R-Ni melts as novel fluxes for solution growth of suboxides.
- Transport, X-ray diffraction, and DFT calculations show that R5Pb3O host an electron-phonon coupling driven charge density wave at T = 260 K (R=La) and 145 K (R=Ce).
R. F. S. Penacchio, S. Mohamed, H. A. Harms, S. L. Morelhão, Lin-Lin Wang, S. L. Bud’ko, P. C. Canfield, T. J. Slade. Physical Review B. 112, 174109 2025, (Editor’s choice). https://doi.org/10.1103/c1qw-ddfn