title: Two-dimensional polaronic behavior in the binary oxides m-HfO2 and m-ZrO2.
abstract: We demonstrate that the three-dimensional (3D) binary monoclinic oxides HfO2 and ZrO2 exhibit quasi-2D polaron localization and conductivity, which results from a small difference in the coordination of two oxygen sublattices in these materials. The transition between a 2D large polaron into a zero-dimensional small polaron state requires overcoming a small energetic barrier. These results demonstrate how a small asymmetry in the lattice structure can determine the qualitative character of polaron localization and significantly broaden the realm of quasi-2D polaron systems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, University of York, Heslington, York, United Kingdom. keith.mckenna@york.ac.uk
authors.forename: Keith P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: McKenna
authors.forename: Matthew J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Wolf
authors.forename: Alexander L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Shluger
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lany
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zunger