Structural and optoelectronic properties of thin film LaWN3

Perovskite and related materials exhibit a staggering array of interesting ground states and functional applications. Among these, nitride perovskites are predicted to possess intriguing physical properties, but they remain underexplored due to the challenges in synthesizing materials without unintentional oxygen incorporation. LaWN${}_{3}$, recently identified as the first fully nitrided perovskite, displays polar symmetry and a large piezoelectric coefficient. However, its predicted polarization switching (common for ferroelectrics) is hindered by a significant leakage current, necessitating a better understanding of its electronic structure and optical properties. This study delves into the structure and optoelectronic properties of thin film LaWN${}_{3}$ in greater detail, employing combinatorial techniques to establish correlations between properties and cation stoichiometry.