Synthesis and chemical doping studies of select Cu- and Pt-based Delafossites

Delafossites, layered metal oxides with the composition ABO₂, have caught much attention recently due to their interesting magnetic and electronic properties. Pt- and Pd-based delafossite compounds exhibit highly metallic transport behavior comparable with that of copper and gold. Ferromagnetic surface state and Anomalous Hall effect have also been observed in the PdCoO₂ films. Cu-based Delafossites CuAlO₂ and CuCoO₂ are transparent conductive oxides while CuCrO₂ and CuFeO₂ are having interesting magnetic and magnetoelectric properties. Theoretical calculations have suggested superconductivity could occur in the hole doped CuAlO₂. In this presentation, we will discuss our research efforts on synthesis and characterization of single crystal growth of CuAlO₂, PtCoO₂, and chemical doping studies of CuAl_1-xCr_xO₂ phases. The detailed results, the challenges and implications will be discussed as well.