Ab-initio study on crystal structure of $\alpha$-RuCl$_3$

ORAL

Abstract

$\alpha$-RuCl$_3$ was recently proposed as a candidate system for materialization of Kitaev model, but precise structural information of the compound has remained elusive. For the clarification of the full three-dimensional crystal structure of $\alpha$-RuCl$_3$, we performed ab-initio electronic structure calculations including effects of spin-orbit coupling (SOC) and electron correlations. We found that SOC prevents dimerization between Ru atoms, and keeps the system close to honeycomb lattice. The ground state crystal structure has monoclinic $C2/m$-type layer stacking, but trigonal $P3_112$-and orthorhombic $Cmc2_1$-type stacking orders are comparable to the $C2/m$ structure in energy, so that stacking faults can be easily introduced. The electronic structure and the $j_{\rm eff}$=1/2 pseudospin exchange interactions and possible magnetic states in $\alpha$-RuCl$_3$ will be presented.

Authors

  • Hae-Young Kee

    University of Toronto, Univ of Toronto

  • Heung-Sik Kim

    University of Toronto, Univ of Toronto