Frustrated magnets can host numerous exotic many-body quantum and topological phenomena. GeNi2O4 is a three dimensional S=1 frustrated magnet with an unusual two-stage transition to the two-dimensional antiferromagnetic ground state, while GeCu2O4 is a high-pressure phase with a strongly tetragonally elongated spinel structure and magnetic lattice formed by S=1/2 CuO2 linear chains with frustrated exchange interactions and exotic magnetic behavior. Here we report on the first thin-film epitaxial stabilization of these two compounds. Developed growth mode, surface morphology, crystal structure and copper valence state were characterized by in-situ reflection high-energy electron diffraction, atomic force microscopy, X-ray reflectivity, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and resonant X-ray absorption spectroscopy. Our results pave an alternative route to the comprehensive investigation of the puzzling magnetic properties of these compounds and exploration of novel emergent features driven by strain.
@article{arxiv.1907.07785,
title = {Epitaxial stabilization of thin films of the frustrated Ge-based spinels},
author = {Denis M. Vasiukov and Mikhail Kareev and Fangdi Wen and Liang Wu and Padraic Shafer and Elke Arenholz and Xiaoran Liu and Jak Chakhalian},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1907.07785},
year = {2021}
}