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The search for materials with novel and unusual electronic properties is at the heart of condensed matter physics as well as the basis to develop conceptual new technologies. In this context, the correlated honeycomb transition metal oxides have attracted large attention for both, being a possible experimental realization of the theoretically predicted magnetic Kitaev exchange and the theoretical prospect of topological nontriviality. Mott‐insulating Na2IrO3 is prototypical among these materials, characterized by crystal field splitting, spin–orbit coupling, and Hubbard repulsion being on similar energy scales. Herein, a combined electrical transport and scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STS) study of the surface of sodium iridate cleaved and in situ investigated under ultrahigh vacuum is reported. Temperature‐dependent transport measurements prove the existence of surface conductance with a surprisingly high and temperature‐independent conductivity. STS shows a variety of different spectra. Most importantly, a significant density of states is found within the bandgap of sodium iridate at the surface. Based on the local spectroscopic information, multiple conductive channels with differing nature being simultaneously apparent in this material are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The search for materials with novel and unusual electronic properties is at the heart of condensed matter physics as well as the basis to develop conceptual new technologies. In this context, the correlated honeycomb transition metal oxides have attracted large attention for both, being a possible experimental realization of the theoretically predicted magnetic Kitaev exchange and the theoretical prospect of topological nontriviality. Mott‐insulating Na2IrO3 is prototypical among these materials, characterized by crystal field splitting, spin–orbit coupling, and Hubbard repulsion being on similar energy scales. Herein, a combined electrical transport and scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STS) study of the surface of sodium iridate cleaved and in situ investigated under ultrahigh vacuum is reported. Temperature‐dependent transport measurements prove the existence of surface conductance with a surprisingly high and temperature‐independent conductivity. STS shows a variety of different spectra. Most importantly, a significant density of states is found within the bandgap of sodium iridate at the surface. Based on the local spectroscopic information, multiple conductive channels with differing nature being simultaneously apparent in this material are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Control of individual spins at the atomic level holds great promise for miniaturized spintronics, quantum sensing, and quantum information processing. Both single atomic and molecular spin centers are prime candidates for these applications and are often individually addressed and manipulated using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). In this work, we present a hybrid approach and demonstrate a robust method for self-assembly of magnetic organometallic complexes consisting of individual iron (Fe) atoms and molecules on a silver substrate using STM. We employ two types of molecules, bis(dibenzoylmethane) copper(II) [Cu(dbm) 2 ] and iron phthalocyanine (FePc). We show that in both cases, the Fe atoms preferentially attach underneath the benzene ring ligand of the molecules, effectively forming an organometallic half-sandwich arene complex, Fe(C 6 H 6 ), which is akin to the properties of metallocenes. In both situations, a molecule can be combined with up to two Fe atoms. In addition, we observe a change in the magnetic properties of the attached Fe atoms in scanning tunneling spectroscopy, revealing a distinct Kondo signature at the Fe sites. We explain the latter using density functional theory calculations and find that the bond formation between the Fe 3d-orbitals and the benzene π-molecular orbitals creates a favorable situation for Kondo screening of the d xz - and d yz -like orbitals. Thus, this work establishes a reliable design principle for forming hybrid organometallic complexes and simultaneous tuning of their atomic spin states.