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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 325 records · Page 18
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2020

Customized Chiral Colloids

This contribution describes a synthetic strategy for the fabrication of multicomponent colloidal “molecules” with controllable complex morphologies and compositionally distinct lobes. Using 3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacry-late (TPM) as the building block, the methodology enables a scalable bulk synthesis of customized chiral colloidal particles with geometric and compositional chirality by sequential seeded growth method. Finally, the synthetic protocol presents a versatile platform for constructing colloidal molecules with multiple components having customized shapes and functionalities, with the potential to impact the design of chromatic patchy particles, colloidal swimmers and chiral optical materials, as well as informing programmable assembly.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2022

Electrical manipulation of skyrmions in a chiral magnet

Writing, erasing and computing are three fundamental operations required by any working electronic device. Magnetic skyrmions could be essential bits in promising in emerging topological spintronic devices. In particular, skyrmions in chiral magnets have outstanding properties like compact texture, uniform size, and high mobility. However, creating, deleting, and driving isolated skyrmions, as prototypes of aforementioned basic operations, have been a grand challenge in chiral magnets ever since the discovery of skyrmions, and achieving all these three operations in a single device is even more challenging. Here, by engineering chiral magnet Co 8 Zn 10 Mn 2 into the customized micro-devices for in-situ Lorentz transmission electron microscopy observations, we implement these three operations of skyrmions using nanosecond current pulses with a low current density of about 10 10 A·m -2 at room temperature. A notched structure can create or delete magnetic skyrmions depending on the direction and magnitude of current pulses. We further show that the magnetic skyrmions can be deterministically shifted step-by-step by current pulses, allowing the establishment of the universal current-velocity relationship. These experimental results have immediate significance towards the skyrmion-based memory or logic devices.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2022

Chiral structures of electric polarization vectors quantified by X-ray resonant scattering

Resonant elastic X-ray scattering (REXS) offers a unique tool to investigate solid-state systems providing spatial knowledge from diffraction combined with electronic information through the enhanced absorption process, allowing the probing of magnetic, charge, spin, and orbital degrees of spatial order together with electronic structure. A new promising application of REXS is to elucidate the chiral structure of electrical polarization emergent in a ferroelectric oxide superlattice in which the polarization vectors in the REXS amplitude are implicitly described through an anisotropic tensor corresponding to the quadrupole moment. Here, we present a detailed theoretical framework and analysis to quantitatively analyze the experimental results of Ti L-edge REXS of a polar vortex array formed in a PbTiO 3 /SrTiO 3 superlattice. Based on this theoretical framework, REXS for polar chiral structures can become a useful tool similar to x-ray resonant magnetic scattering (XRMS), enabling a comprehensive study of both electric and magnetic REXS on the chiral structures.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2023

Strain and crystallographic identification of the helically concaved gap surfaces of chiral nanoparticles

Identifying the three-dimensional (3D) crystal plane and strain-field distributions of nanocrystals is essential for optical, catalytic, and electronic applications. However, it remains a challenge to image concave surfaces of nanoparticles. Here, we develop a methodology for visualizing the 3D information of chiral gold nanoparticles ≈ 200 nm in size with concave gap structures by Bragg coherent X-ray diffraction imaging. The distribution of the high-Miller-index planes constituting the concave chiral gap is precisely determined. The highly strained region adjacent to the chiral gaps is resolved, which was correlated to the 432-symmetric morphology of the nanoparticles and its corresponding plasmonic properties are numerically predicted from the atomically defined structures. This approach can serve as a comprehensive characterization platform for visualizing the 3D crystallographic and strain distributions of nanoparticles with a few hundred nanometers, especially for applications where structural complexity and local heterogeneity are major determinants, as exemplified in plasmonics.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2024

Signatures of polarized chiral spin disproportionation in rare earth nickelates

In rare earth nickelates (RENiO 3 ), electron-lattice coupling drives a concurrent metal-to-insulator and bond disproportionation phase transition whose microscopic origin has long been the subject of active debate. Of several proposed mechanisms, here we test the hypothesis that pairs of self-doped ligand holes spatially condense to provide local spin moments that are antiferromagnetically coupled to Ni spins. These singlet-like states provide a basis for long-range bond and spiral spin order. Using magnetic resonant X-ray scattering on NdNiO 3 thin films, we observe the chiral nature of the spin disproportionated state, with spin spirals propagating along the crystallographic (101) ortho direction. These spin spirals are found to preferentially couple to X-ray helicity, establishing the presence of a hitherto-unobserved macroscopic chirality. The presence of this chiral magnetic configuration suggests a potential multiferroic coupling between the noncollinear magnetic arrangement and improper ferroelectric behavior as observed in prior studies on NdNiO 3 (101) ortho films and RENiO 3 single crystals. Experimentally constrained theoretical double-cluster calculations confirm the presence of an energetically stable spin-disproportionated state with Zhang-Rice singlet-like combinations of Ni and ligand moments

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2025

Weyl phonons: the connection of topology and chirality

Topology and chirality of fermionic quasiparticles have enabled exciting discoveries, including quantum anomalous Hall liquids and topological superconductivity. Recently, topological and chiral phonons emerge as new and fast-evolving research directions. While these concepts are separately developed, they are intimately connected in the context of Weyl phonons. The couplings between chiral and topological phonons with various electronic and magnetic quasiparticles are predicted to give rise to new quantum states and giant magnetism with fundamental and applicational interests, ranging from quantum information science to dark matter detectors.

Zhang, Tiantian [Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS)↗
DOE OSTI2020

Linear and nonlinear optical responses in the chiral multifold semimetal RhSi

Chiral topological semimetals are materials that break both inversion and mirror symmetries. They host interesting phenomena such as the quantized circular photogalvanic effect (CPGE) and the chiral magnetic effect. In this work, we report a comprehensive theoretical and experimental analysis of the linear and nonlinear optical responses of the chiral topological semimetal RhSi, which is known to host multifold fermions. We show that the characteristic features of the optical conductivity, which display two distinct quasi-linear regimes above and below 0.4 eV, can be linked to excitations of different kinds of multifold fermions. The characteristic features of the CPGE, which displays a sign change at 0.4 eV and a large non-quantized response peak of around 160 μA/V 2 at 0.7 eV, are explained by assuming that the chemical potential crosses a flat hole band at the Brillouin zone center. Our theory predicts that, in order to observe a quantized CPGE in RhSi, it is necessary to increase the chemical potential as well as the quasiparticle lifetime. More broadly, our methodology, especially the development of the broadband terahertz emission spectroscopy, could be widely applied to study photogalvanic effects in noncentrosymmetric materials and in topological insulators in a contact-less way and accelerate the technological development of efficient infrared detectors based on topological semimetals.

Materials Science↗
DOE OSTI2023

Electromagnetic signatures of a chiral quantum spin liquid

Quantum spin liquids (QSL) have emerged as a captivating subject within interacting spin systems that exhibit no magnetic ordering even at the lowest temperature accessible experimentally. However, definitive experimental evidence remains elusive. In light of the recent surge in theoretical and experimental interest in the half-filled Hubbard model on a triangular lattice, which offers the potential for stabilizing a chiral QSL, we investigate the electromagnetic signatures of this phase to facilitate experimental detection. Utilizing a combination of parton mean-field theory and unbiased density-matrix renormalization group calculations, we systematically examine the electrical charge and orbital electrical current associated with a spinon excitation in the chiral QSL. Additionally, we calculate the longitudinal and transverse optical conductivities below the Mott gap. Furthermore, employing quantum field theory analysis, we unravel the connection between spinon excitations and emergent as well as physical gauge fields. Our results demonstrate that the chiral QSL phase exhibits a distinct electromagnetic response, even within a Mott insulator regime. This finding holds great potential for enabling the experimental detection of this long-sought-after phase.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2025

Real-space chirality from crystalline topological defects in the Kitaev spin liquid

We show that certain crystalline topological defects in the gapless Kitaev honeycomb spin liquid model generate a chirality and Majorana fermion orbital magnetization that depends in a universal manner on their emergent flux. Focusing on 5–7 dislocations as building blocks, consisting of pentagon and heptagon disclinations, we identify the Kitaev bond label configurations that preserve solvability. By computing two formulations of local markers M(r) we find that the 5 and 7 lattice defects generate a real-space contribution to Chern number and an associated Majorana fermion orbital magnetization proportional to M(r). The sign of the M(r) contribution from each 5/7 defect, i.e. its q M = ± 1 chirality, is determined by the defect Frank angle sign F and emergent gauge field flux W = ± i through the expression q M = − iFW. Remarkably, though lattice curvature and torsion can interplay with the surrounding gapless background to modify the profile of M(r), its sign q M is determined locally, implying that crystalline defects in the Kitaev spin liquid can generate a robust and observable chirality.

Magnetic properties and materials↗
DOE OSTI2021

Unconventional chiral charge order in kagome superconductor KV 3 Sb 5

Intertwining quantum order and non-trivial topology is at the frontier of condensed matter physics. A charge-density-wave-like order with orbital currents has been proposed for achieving the quantum anomalous Hall effect in topological materials and for the hidden phase in cuprate high-temperature superconductors. However, the experimental realization of such an order is challenging. Here we use high-resolution scanning tunnelling microscopy to discover an unconventional chiral charge order in a kagome material, KV 3 Sb 5 , with both a topological band structure and a superconducting ground state. Through both topography and spectroscopic imaging, we observe a robust 2 × 2 superlattice. Spectroscopically, an energy gap opens at the Fermi level, across which the 2 × 2 charge modulation exhibits an intensity reversal in real space, signalling charge ordering. At the impurity-pinning-free region, the strength of intrinsic charge modulations further exhibits chiral anisotropy with unusual magnetic field response. Therefore theoretical analysis of our experiments suggests a tantalizing unconventional chiral charge density wave in the frustrated kagome lattice, which can not only lead to a large anomalous Hall effect with orbital magnetism, but also be a precursor of unconventional superconductivity.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2023

Proximity-induced chiral quantum light generation in strain-engineered WSe 2 /NiPS 3 heterostructures

Quantum light emitters capable of generating single photons with circular polarization and non-classical statistics could enable non-reciprocal single-photon devices and deterministic spin–photon interfaces for quantum networks. To date, the emission of such chiral quantum light relies on the application of intense external magnetic fields, electrical/optical injection of spin-polarized carriers/excitons or coupling with complex photonic metastructures. Here we report the creation of free-space chiral quantum light emitters via the nanoindentation of monolayer WSe 2 /NiPS 3 heterostructures at zero external magnetic field. These quantum light emitters emit with a high degree of circular polarization (0.89) and single-photon purity (95%), independent of pump laser polarization. In this study, scanning diamond nitrogen-vacancy microscopy and temperature-dependent magneto-photoluminescence studies reveal that the chiral quantum light emission arises from magnetic proximity interactions between localized excitons in the WSe 2 monolayer and the out-of-plane magnetization of defects in the antiferromagnetic order of NiPS 3 , both of which are co-localized by strain fields associated with the nanoscale indentations.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2024

Manipulation of chiral interface states in a moiré quantum anomalous Hall insulator

Moiré systems made from stacked two-dimensional materials host correlated and topological states that can be electrically controlled with applied gate voltages. One prevalent form of topological state that can occur are Chern insulators that display a quantum anomalous Hall effect. Here we manipulate Chern domains in an interaction-driven quantum anomalous Hall insulator made from twisted monolayer–bilayer graphene and observe chiral interface states at the boundary between different domains. By tuning the carrier concentration, we stabilize neighbouring domains of opposite Chern number that then provide topological interfaces devoid of any structural boundaries. This allows the wavefunction of chiral interface states to be directly imaged using a scanning tunnelling microscope. In conclusion, our theoretical analysis confirms the chiral nature of observed interface states and allows us to determine the characteristic length scale of valley polarization reversal across neighbouring Chern domains.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2024

Room-temperature spin injection across a chiral perovskite/III–V interface

Spin accumulation in semiconductor structures at room temperature and without magnetic fields is key to enable a broader range of optoelectronic functionality. Current efforts are limited owing to inherent inefficiencies associated with spin injection across semiconductor interfaces. Here we demonstrate spin injection across chiral halide perovskite/III-V interfaces achieving spin accumulation in a standard semiconductor III-V (Al x Ga 1-x ) 0.5 In 0.5 P multiple quantum well light-emitting diode. The spin accumulation in the multiple quantum well is detected through emission of circularly polarized light with a degree of polarization of up to 15 ± 4%. The chiral perovskite/III-V interface was characterized with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, cross-sectional scanning Kelvin probe force microscopy and cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy imaging, showing a clean semiconductor/semiconductor interface at which the Fermi level can equilibrate. Finally, these findings demonstrate that chiral perovskite semiconductors can transform well-developed semiconductor platforms into ones that can also control spin.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2026

The superconducting diode effect in Josephson junctions fabricated from a structurally chiral superconductor

The superconducting diode effect occurs in superconducting materials in which both time-reversal and inversion symmetry are broken. The recently observed chirality-induced spin selectivity effect demonstrates that chiral materials break both symmetries. Thus, a Josephson junction interface with the left-handed structure on one side of the junction and the right-handed structure on the other should exhibit a diode effect. Here, we report the electrical transport properties of right-handed/left-handed and right-handed/right-handed devices fabricated from single crystals of the structurally chiral superconductor Mo 3 Al 2 C. Fraunhofer-like magnetic diffraction patterns confirm the presence of the Josephson effect in all but one of our devices. A magnetic-field-induced superconducting diode effect is demonstrated in the right-handed/left-handed devices by a statistically significant difference in I c + and ∣ I c −∣, with a maximum asymmetry of 5%. The intrinsic superconducting diode effect is not observed in the right-handed/right-handed devices. We provide an explanation for the presence of the superconducting diode effect in the right-handed/left-handed devices.

superconducting devices↗
DOE OSTI2020

Programmable chiral states in flocks of active magnetic rollers

Inspired by nature, active matter exemplified by self-organization of motile units into macroscopic structures holds great promise for advanced tunable materials capable of flocking, shape-shifting, and self-healing. Active particles driven by external fields have repeatedly demonstrated potential for complex self-organization and collective behavior, yet how to guide the direction of their collective motion largely remains unexplored. Here, we report a system of microscopic ferromagnetic rollers driven by an alternating magnetic field that demonstrates programmable control of the direction of a self-organized coherent vortical motion (i.e., chirality). Facilitated by a droplet confinement, the rollers get synchronized and display either right- or left-handed spontaneous vortical motion, such that their moving direction determines the vortex chirality. Here, we reveal that one can remotely command a flock of magnetic rollers to switch or maintain its chiral state by modulating a phase shift of the sinusoidal magnetic field powering the active rollers. Building on our findings, we realize a self-assembled remotely controlled micro-pump architecture capable of switching the fluid transport direction on demand. Our studies may stimulate new design strategies for directed transport and flocking robotics at the microscale based on active colloids.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2021

Chiral propulsion: The method of effective boundary conditions

We propose to apply an “effective boundary condition” method to the problem of chiral propulsion. For the case of a rotating helix moving through a fluid at a low Reynolds number, the method amounts to replacing the original helix (in the limit of small pitch) by a cylinder, but with a special kind of partial slip boundary conditions replacing the non-slip boundary conditions on the original helix. These boundary conditions are constructed to reproduce far-field velocities of the original problem and are defined by a few parameters (slipping lengths) that can be extracted from a problem in planar rather than cylindrical geometry. We derive the chiral propulsion coefficients for spirals, helicoids, helically modulated cylinders and some of their generalizations using the introduced method. In the case of spirals, we compare our results with the ones derived by Lighthill and find a very good agreement. Here, the proposed method is general and can be applied to any helical shape in the limit of a small pitch. Furthermore, we have established that for a broad class of helical surfaces the dependence of the chiral propulsion on the helical angle θ is universal, x ~ cos θ sin 2θ with the maximal propulsion achieved at the universal angle θ m = tan –1 (1/√2) ≈ 35.26°.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Spin-dependent charge transmission through chiral 2T3N self-assembled monolayer on Au

In this study, a gold surface is functionalized by chemisorption of the enantiopure N,N'-bis-[2,2';5',2"]tert-thiophene-5-yl methylcyclohexane-1,2-diamine (2T3N), a chiral oligothiophene derivative, via overnight incubation in a 2T3N ethanol solution. The Au|2T3N interface is characterized by x-ray photoelectron circular dichroism and comparing x-ray photoemission spectroscopy and electro-desorption results. Charge transmission at the Au|2T3N| solution interface is characterized by recording the cyclic voltammetry of the Fe(III)/Fe(II) reversible redox couple, finding a charge transfer rate constant, k°, variation from 1 × 10 -1 to 3.3 × 10 -2 cm s -1 , when comparing the bare Au and the Au|2T3N interfaces, respectively. The “anomalous” high value of k° found for the chiral Au|2T3N interface can be rationalized on the basis of the chiral-induced spin selectivity effect, as further proved by magnetic–conductive atomic force microscopy measurements at room temperature. A spin polarization of about 30% is found.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2026

Chiral Magnon Mixing by Symmetry-Breaking in Collinear Ferrimagnets

Magnons in ferromagnets possess spin angular momentum defined by right-handed precession of the moment around the magnetization direction. In antiferromagnets with no net magnetization, left- and right-handed magnons are degenerate in the absence of an applied field. Ferrimagnets possess uncompensated magnetic sublattices, which should natively possess right- and left-handed magnons where their energy is split by the internal molecular field. Here, we show that 𝑅⁢Mn6⁢Sn6 (𝑅 =Tb, Er) ferrimagnets possess right- and left-handed magnon bands that cross at finite momentum (𝐤) within the basal plane, defining modes with opposite dynamical chirality. Depending on the symmetry of the ferrimagnetic order, which may be manipulated by varying the rare-earth magnetic anisotropy or with an applied field, the band crossing may remain a nodal line or may be gapped. The gapped modes contain hybridized chiral excitations whose chirality becomes 𝐤-dependent.

Jaishi, Dhurba R [Ames Laboratory]↗