STM Observations of Lanthanum Vanadate Phase Transition*

Atomic scale studies of phase transitions can offer interesting insight into the fundamental nature of a material’s properties and structure. Lanthanum Vanadate (LaVO₃) undergoes a structural phase transition around 139 K from an orthorhombic to a monoclinic structure. Here we will present results from STM investigations of thin (25 nm) films of lanthanum vanadate on LSAT substrates. Temperature dependent topographic and spectroscopic investigations of the surface of the material as it undergoes this structural transition reveal the onset of nanometer scale surface corrugations, and enable us to study the impact of atomic scale strain variations on the local electronic properties of materials.