Electronic and magnetic properties of structural defects in SrTiO$_3$(Co)

Abstract

The synthesis conditions of SrTiO$_3$(Co) samples in which cobalt predominantly enters the $A$ or $B$ sites of the perovskite $AB$O$_3$ structure are found. EXAFS studies show that the Co impurity at the $A$ site is off-center and is displaced from the site by 1.0 {\AA}. XANES studies reveal two predominant oxidation states of Co: Co$^{2+}$ at the $A$ site and Co$^{3+}$ at the $B$ site. First-principles calculations of a number of possible cobalt-containing structural defects reveal defects whose properties are compatible with the experimentally observed Co oxidation state, its local structure, magnetic, electrical, and optical properties.