This thesis presents an experimental study of ordering phenomena in rare-earth nickelate-based heterostructures by means of inelastic Raman light scattering and elastic resonant x-ray scattering (RXS). Further, it demonstrates that the amplitude ratio of magnetic moments at neighboring nickel sites can be accurately determined by RXS in combination with a correlated double cluster model, and controlled experimentally through structural pinning of the oxygen positions in the crystal lattice. The two key outcomes of the thesis are: (a) demonstrating full control over the charge/bond and spin order parameters in specifically designed praseodymium nickelate heterostructures and observation of a novel spin density wave phase in absence of the charge/bond order parameter, which confirms theoretical predictions of a spin density wave phase driven by spatial confinement of the conduction electrons; and (b) assessing the thickness-induced crossover between collinear and non-collinear spin structures in neodymium nickelate slabs, which is correctly predicted by drawing on density functional theory.

Oxides form a broad subject area of research and technology development which encompasses different disciplines such as materials science, solid state chemistry, physics etc. The aim of this book is to demonstrate the interplay of these fields and to provide an introduction to the techniques and methodologies involving film growth, characterization and device processing. The literature in this field is thus fairly scattered in different research journals covering one or the other aspect of the specific activity. This situation calls for a book that will consolidate this information and thus enable a beginner as well as an expert to get an overall perspective of the field, its foundations, and its projected progress.

Nanoelectronics is changing the way the world communicates, and is transforming our daily lives. Continuing Moore’s law and miniaturization of low-power semiconductor chips with ever-increasing functionality have been relentlessly driving R&D of new devices, materials, and process capabilities to meet performance, power, and cost requirements. This book covers up-to-date advances in research and industry practices in nanometrology, critical for continuing technology scaling and product innovation. It holistically approaches the subject matter and addresses emerging and important topics in semiconductor R&D and manufacturing. It is a complete guide for metrology and diagnostic techniques essential for process technology, electronics packaging, and product development and debugging—a unique approach compared to other books. The authors are from academia, government labs, and industry and have vast experience and expertise in the topics presented. The book is intended for all those involved in IC manufacturing and nanoelectronics and for those studying nanoelectronics process and assembly technologies or working in device testing, characterization, and diagnostic techniques.

Epitaxial Growth of Complex Metal Oxides, Second Edition reviews techniques and recent developments in the fabrication quality of complex metal oxides, which are facilitating advances in electronic, magnetic and optical applications. Sections review the key techniques involved in the epitaxial growth of complex metal oxides and explore the effects of strain and stoichiometry on crystal structure and related properties in thin film oxides. Finally, the book concludes by discussing selected examples of important applications of complex metal oxide thin films, including optoelectronics, batteries, spintronics and neuromorphic applications. This new edition has been fully updated, with brand new chapters on topics such as atomic layer deposition, interfaces, STEM-EELs, and the epitaxial growth of multiferroics, ferroelectrics and nanocomposites. - Examines the techniques used in epitaxial thin film growth for complex oxides, including atomic layer deposition, sputtering techniques, molecular beam epitaxy, and chemical solution deposition techniques - Reviews materials design strategies and materials property analysis methods, including the impacts of defects, strain, interfaces and stoichiometry - Describes key applications of epitaxially grown metal oxides, including optoelectronics, batteries, spintronics and neuromorphic applications

This thesis presents the results of resonant and non-resonant x-ray scattering experiments demonstrating the control of collective ordering phenomena in epitaxial nickel-oxide and copper-oxide based superlattices. Three outstanding results are reported: (1) LaNiO3-LaAlO3 superlattices with fewer than three consecutive NiO2 layers exhibit a novel spiral spin density wave, whereas superlattices with thicker nickel-oxide layer stacks remain paramagnetic. The magnetic transition is thus determined by the dimensionality of the electron system. The polarization plane of the spin density wave can be tuned by epitaxial strain and spatial confinement of the conduction electrons. (2) Further experiments on the same system revealed an unusual structural phase transition controlled by the overall thickness of the superlattices. The transition between uniform and twin-domain states is confined to the nickelate layers and leaves the aluminate layers unaffected. (3) Superlattices based on the high-temperature superconductor YBa2Cu3O7 exhibit an incommensurate charge density wave order that is stabilized by heterointerfaces. These results suggest that interfaces can serve as a powerful tool to manipulate the interplay between spin order, charge order, and superconductivity in cuprates and other transition metal oxides.