Origin of Spinel Nanocheckerboards via First Principles

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Self-organizing nanocheckerboards have been experimentally fabricated in Mn-based spinels, but have not yet been explained with first principles. Using density-functional-theory, we explain the phase diagram of the ZnMnₓGa₂₋ₓO₄ system and the origin of nanocheckerboards. We predict total phase separation at zero temperature, then show the combination of kinetics, thermodynamics, and Jahn-Teller physics that generates the system's observed behavior. We find the 011 surfaces are strongly-preferred energetically, which mandates checkerboard ordering by purely geometrical considerations.