In the realm of energy materials research, a team of scientists from the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Mohali has been delving into the intricate world of nickelates, a class of materials that hold promise for various energy applications. The researchers, led by Pradeep Kumar, have been investigating the role of lattice dynamics in trilayer nickelates, specifically Pr4-xLaxNi3O10, to understand the interplay between charge, orbital, and spin degrees of freedom that give rise to unique phenomena in these materials.
The team, comprising Sonia Deswal, Dibyata Rout, Nirmalya Jana, Koushik Pal, and Surjeet Singh, employed temperature and polarization-dependent Raman scattering measurements to probe the phononic degrees of freedom in these nickelates. Their findings, published in the journal Physical Review B, shed light on the behavior of these materials as they undergo a metal-to-metal transition (TMMT), characterized by the development of intertwined spin and charge density waves.
The researchers observed that the spin density wave precedes the charge density wave in these transitions, which manifest as notable anomalies in phonon self-energy parameters, such as peak frequency and linewidth, in the vicinity of the TMMT. Several phonon modes exhibited dramatic changes in their softening rates across the TMMT, underscoring the sensitivity of lattice dynamics to spin and charge order. These insights highlight the crucial role of lattice degrees of freedom in mediating correlated ground states in layered nickelates.
For the energy industry, understanding the lattice dynamics and the interplay of various degrees of freedom in nickelates could pave the way for the development of advanced energy materials. Nickelates are known for their potential applications in superconductivity, battery technology, and spintronics. By unraveling the complex behavior of these materials, researchers can potentially engineer nickelates with tailored properties for specific energy applications, such as high-temperature superconductors for efficient energy transmission or advanced battery materials for energy storage.
The practical applications of this research extend to the design of materials with enhanced performance and stability, which are critical for the development of next-generation energy technologies. As the energy sector continues to evolve, the insights gained from studying the fundamental properties of materials like nickelates will be instrumental in driving innovation and improving the efficiency of energy systems.
This article is based on research available at arXiv.