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Pressure-induced transitions in FePS$_3$: Structural, magnetic and electronic properties

by Shiyu Deng, Siyu Chen, Bartomeu Monserrat, Emilio Artacho, Siddharth S Saxena

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Submission summary

Authors (as registered SciPost users): Shiyu Deng
Submission information
Preprint Link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2209.05353v3  (pdf)
Date accepted: 2023-05-22
Date submitted: 2023-04-04 11:23
Submitted by: Deng, Shiyu
Submitted to: SciPost Physics
Ontological classification
Academic field: Physics
Specialties:
  • Condensed Matter Physics - Computational
Approach: Computational

Abstract

FePS$_3$ is a prototype van der Waals layered antiferromagnet and a Mott insulator under ambient conditions, which has been recently reported to go through a pressure-induced dimensionality crossover and an insulator-to-metal transition. These transitions also lead to the appearance of a novel magnetic metallic state. To further understand these emergent structural and physical properties, we have performed a first-principles study using van der Waals and Hubbard $U$ corrected density functional theory including a random structure search. Our computational study attempts to interpret the experimental coexistence of the low- and intermediate-pressure phases and we predict a novel high-pressure phase with distinctive dimensionality and different possible origins of metallicity.

Author comments upon resubmission

resubmission letter

Published as SciPost Phys. 15, 020 (2023)

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Comments

Claudio Attaccalite  on 2023-04-06  [id 3561]

Category:
reply to objection

I publish the authors' communication in this comment, so that the referees can read it and formulate a possible response.

/===================================/

Dear Dr. Claudio Attaccalite,

Thank you for your insightful review of our manuscript and the opportunity to revise our paper. We appreciate the thorough assessment and constructive feedback provided by both referees. We have carefully considered their comments and suggestions and made necessary changes in the revised manuscript.

Regarding Referee 1's report, we have addressed the concerns raised, such as removing redundancy in the text and improving clarity. We appreciate the referee’s positive comments regarding the topic and results presented in our work, and we thank them for suggesting our work for publication.

In response to Referee 2's report,

1 ) We have expanded the introduction section to include recent papers on TMPX3 compounds and pressure-induced superconductors, as suggested by the second referee’s report: We have added [2D Mater. 10, 014008 (2023)] as an example of “clean energy generation related with photocatalytic water splitting applications”. We have added [J. Phys. Chem. C 126, 6791 (2022); Phys. Rev. B 106, 035137 (2022)] as monolayer manufacturing references. We have added [Nat. Commun. 5, 5508 (2014); Nat. Commun. 12, 5436 (2021); Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci.118, e2108938118 (2021); npj Quantum Mater. 7, 93 (2022)] to expand the pressure-induced superconductivity near antiferromagnetic order. We did not add [Nature 615, 244 (2023)] as the debate regarding this work is still underway. We have added [Phys. Rev. B 107, 075423 (2023)] to address the complexity of magnetic interactions in TMPX3.

2) In our paper, we have illustrated how the band gap shrinks with increasing pressure in LP and HP-I phases and the insulator-to-metal transition happens when HP-II-beta phase becomes the most energetically favourable phase. The dimensionality is explored as a function of the inter- and intralayer P-P distances. The HP-II-beta phase is 3D-connected by contrast to the HP-II phase, of which the interlayer distance gets suppressed but the van der Waals gap remains.

3) While we recognize the importance of establishing a theoretical model for FePS3, this is beyond the scope of the current study. We cannot delineate a simple model which addresses the insulator-to-metal transition, the magnetic ordering evolution and P-P interlayering bonding at the same time within the DFT+U framework. The models proposed by some of the previous studies are focusing on the magnetic interactions at ambient pressure. However, we will keep this suggestion in mind for the future studies.

Overall, we believe that these revisions have strengthened the manuscript and addressed the referees’ concerns. We hope that these revisions adequately address your concerns and that you find our manuscript suitable for publication in SciPost Physics.

Thank you again for considering our manuscript for publication. We look forward to hearing your decision.

Yours sincerely, Shiyu Deng, Siyu Chen, Bartomeu Monserrat, Emilio Artacho and Siddharth Saxena

Author:  Shiyu Deng  on 2023-04-11  [id 3568]

(in reply to Claudio Attaccalite on 2023-04-06 [id 3561])

Dear Dr. Claudio Attaccalite,

Thank you for sharing the positive feedback from the referees. We are glad to hear that they found our revisions satisfactory and that the manuscript has been improved.

Regarding the suggestion to insert the author names of ref. 20 and cite [J. Phys. Chem. C 126, 6791 (2022)], we apologize for the oversight and have made the necessary changes in the revised manuscript. The updated version has been published via arXiv: 2209.05353v5 (https://arxiv.org/abs/2209.05353) and is ready for resubmission.

We appreciate your consideration of our manuscript for publication in SciPost Physics and look forward to hearing your final decision.

Yours sincerely,
Shiyu Deng, Siyu Chen, Bartomeu Monserrat, Emilio Artacho and Siddharth Saxena

Anonymous on 2023-04-06  [id 3562]

(in reply to Claudio Attaccalite on 2023-04-06 [id 3561])

The authors have addressed all points raised by the Referees. Their answers are satisfying, the changes made to the manuscript appropriate, and then the revised version of the paper definitely improved. I only suggest suggest to insert the author names of ref. 20 and cite ref. J. Phys. Chem. C 126, 6791 (2022) mentioned in the reply but missed in the text.
Therefore, I recommend publication of the manuscript in SciPost Physics.