Suppression of Jahn–Teller term-split band edge states in the x-ray absorption spectra of non-crystalline Zr silicates and Si oxynitride alloys, and alloys of ZrO2 with Y2O3

Jahn–Teller (J–T) term-split states in nanocrystalline transition metal and trivalent rare earth elemental and complex oxides reduce the band gap, and tunnelling barrier height at interfaces with crystalline Si substrates. These states are identified by x-ray absorption spectroscopy and spectroscopic ellipsometry. Alloys for suppression of J–T d-state degeneracy removal are identified as: (i) non-crystalline Zr/Hf silicates and Si oxynitrides and (ii) ZrO2–Y2O3 alloys with high concentrations of randomly distributed O-vacancies that promote cubic crystalline symmetry.