Semimetallic electrical properties of rock salt-type LaBi thin films grown by solid-phase reaction of La/Bi multilayer precursors

Abstract

Rock salt-type rare-earth monopnictides (REPn) attract much attention because of their extremely large magnetoresistance and topological properties. So far, most studies have been conducted on REPn bulk single crystals. Recent theoretical studies predicted that the topological properties of REPn can be developed by forming their ultrathin film or applying epitaxial strain. However, it has been difficult to grow highly crystalline REPn thin films due to the high vapor pressure of Pn, hampering the thin film growth at high temperature. Here, we grew highly crystalline (001)-oriented LaBi thin films by solid-phase reaction of a La/Bi multilayer precursor. The LaBi thin films showed metallic conduction and nonlinear Hall resistance, indicating the coexistence of electron and hole carriers, consistent with the intrinsically semimetallic nature of LaBi.