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At least 667 records · Page 37

Cooperative Role of Mixed Solvent in the Evaporation-Induced Self-Assembly of Polypeptoid Nanocrystals

Peptoids, or polypeptoids, are biomimetic polymers that can self-assemble into nanocrystals for biomedical and biotechnological applications. Polypeptoid nanocrystals can be prepared by evaporation-induced self-assembly, but the roles of solvent components for this process have long been overlooked at the molecular level, leaving a tunable parameter for improving self-assembly protocols. This work utilized molecular dynamics simulations to study the effects of water and the commonly used tetrahydrofuran (THF) on the assembly of nanosheets from molecules of acetylated diblock polypeptoid, poly-(N-decylglycine)-b-poly-(N-2-(2-(2-methoxyethoxy)-ethoxy) ethylglycine), abbreviated as Ac-Ndc10-Nte10. To probe the stages of self-assembly, isolated molecules and preassembled nanofibers/nanosheets were simulated in pure THF, water, and their mixtures, respectively. The assembly energies show that the THF/water mixture has a greater tendency to form nanosheets than pure water. In a THF/water mixture, polypeptoids were found more uncoiled in isolated states, less compact in disordered agglomerates, and with reduced requirement for the Nte block to cover hydrophobic Ndc surfaces in the nanocrystals. Mixed solvent is vital to initiating self-assembly, as THF assists in the opening of coiled polypeptoid molecules, while water provides the thermodynamics to aggregate and ultimately form nanocrystals. To obtain wider nanosheets, it is recommended that some THF be maintained in the aqueous solvent before it becomes exhausted by evaporation. Near the nanosheet surface, the THF concentration is higher than that in bulk solution (3-4 times in 4 M THF/water). The strong adsorption of THF indicates the self-assembly in a de facto mixed solvent. These results are expected to guide the refinement of evaporation-induced self-assembly protocols for polypeptoid nanocrystals.

Luo, Xubo↗

Synthesis and Blending of Two Poly(ethylene- co -vinyl alcohol) Polymers with Mixed 1,2-Diol Stereochemistry

Parallel pathways for the postpolymerization modification of double bonds in a polycyclooctene (PCOE) backbone generate vicinal 1,2-diol-containing polymers with mixed but opposite stereochemistry, depending on the trans:cis ratio of the C═C in PCOE. Beginning from the same batch of PCOE, epoxidation and subsequent ring-opening with sulfuric acid and water produce a polymer with the majority erythro diols, whereas an osmium-catalyzed dihydroxylation results in diols in the majority threo orientations. These postpolymerization modification approaches enable access to previously unexplored polymers with a mixture of erythro and threo diols, offering tunable diol stereochemistry to tailor material properties. The majority erythro diols lead to hexagonal crystallites with higher melting temperatures and overall crystallinity when compared to the majority threo diols that form monoclinic crystallites. When blended, the two diastereomers phase separate as evidenced by distinct melting endotherms and crystal structures corresponding to the two component polymers, suggesting a route to tune the barrier or mechanical properties. Furthermore, this investigation synthesized polymers with mixed stereochemical diols and elucidated the thermal and morphological properties of regioregular linear poly(ethylene-co-vinyl alcohols) and their blends.

1,2-diols↗

Siderophore-Mediated Mobilization of Manganese Limits Iron Solubility in Mixed Mineral Systems

Recent laboratory and field studies show the need to consider the formation of aqueous Mn(III)-siderophore complexes in manganese (Mn) and iron (Fe) geochemical cycling, a shift from the historical view that aqueous Mn(III) species are unstable and thus unimportant. In this study, we quantified Mn and Fe mobilization by desferrioxamine B (DFOB), a terrestrial bacterial siderophore, in single (Mn or Fe) and mixed (Mn and Fe) mineral systems. We selected manganite (γ-MnOOH), δ-MnO 2 , lepidocrocite (γ-FeOOH), and 2-line ferrihydrite (Fe 2 O 3 ·0.5H 2 O) as relevant mineral phases. We found that DFOB mobilized Mn(III) as Mn(III)-DFOB complexes to varying extents from both Mn(III,IV) oxyhydroxides but reduction of Mn(IV) to Mn(III) was required for the mobilization of Mn(III) from δ-MnO 2 . The initial rates of Mn(III)-DFOB mobilization from manganite and δ-MnO 2 were not affected by the presence of lepidocrocite but decreased by a factor of 5 and 10 for manganite and δ-MnO 2 , respectively, in the presence of 2-line ferrihydrite. Additionally, the decomposition of Mn(III)-DFOB complexes through Mn-for-Fe ligand exchange and/or ligand oxidation led to Mn(II) mobilization and Mn(III) precipitation in the mixed-mineral systems (~10% (mol Mn/mol Fe)). As a result, the concentration of Fe(III) mobilized as Fe(III)-DFOB decreased by up to 50% and 80% in the presence of manganite and δ-MnO 2 , respectively, compared to the single mineral systems. Our results demonstrate that siderophores, through their complexation of Mn(III), reduction of Mn(III,IV), and mobilization of Mn(II), can redistribute Mn to other soil minerals and limit the bioavailability of Fe in natural systems.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Halogen Redox Shuttle Explains Voltage-Induced Halide Redistribution in Mixed-Halide Perovskite Devices

Voltage-induced halide segregation greatly limits the optoelectronic applications of mixed-halide perovskite devices, but a mechanistic explanation behind this phenomenon remains unclear. In this work, we use electron microscopy and elemental mapping to directly measure the halide redistribution in mixed-halide perovskite solar cells with quasi-ion-impermeable contact layers under different bias polarities to find iodide and bromide accumulation at the cathode and anode, respectively. This is consistent with a mechanism based on preferential iodide oxidation at the anode, leading to unbalanced I$^{+}_{i}$, I$^{-}_{X}$, and Br$^{-}_{X}$ fluxes. Importantly, switching the anode from "inert" Au to "active" Ag prevents segregation because Ag oxidation precludes the oxidation of lattice iodide, which suggests employing redox-active additives as a general strategy to suppress halide segregation. Finally, these results show that halide perovskite devices operate as solid-state electrochemical cells when threshold voltages are exceeded, providing fresh insight to understand the impacts of voltage bias on halide perovskite devices.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

Multilayered Ordered Protein Arrays Self-Assembled from a Mixed Population of Virus-like Particles

Biology shows many examples of spatially controlled assembly of cells and biomacromolecules into hierarchically organized structures, to which many of the complex biological functions are attributed. While such biological structures have inspired the design of synthetic materials, it is still a great challenge to control the spatial arrangement of individual building blocks when assembling multiple types of components into bulk materials. Here, in this study, we report self-assembly of multilayered, ordered protein arrays from mixed populations of virus-like particles (VLPs). We systematically tuned the magnitude of the surface charge of the VLPs via mutagenesis to prepare four different types of VLPs for mixing. A mixture of up to four types of VLPs selectively assembled into higher-order structures in the presence of oppositely charged dendrimers during a gradual lowering of the ionic strength of the solution. The assembly resulted in the formation of three-dimensional ordered VLP arrays with up to four distinct layers including a central core, with each layer comprising a single type of VLP. A coarse-grained computational model was developed and simulated using molecular dynamics to probe the formation of the multilayered, core-shell structure. Our findings establish a simple and versatile bottom-up strategy to synthesize multilayered, ordered materials by controlling the spatial arrangement of multiple types of nanoscale building blocks in a one-pot fabrication.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Mixed Cationic and Anionic Redox in Ni and Co Free Chalcogen-Based Cathode Chemistry for Li-Ion Batteries

Mixed cationic and anionic redox cathode chemistry is emerging as conventional cationic-redox of transition metal based layered oxides are reaching their theoretical capacity limit. However, these anionic redox in transition metal oxide-based cathodes attained by taking excess lithium has resulted in stability issues due to weak metal - oxygen ligand covalency. Here, we present an alternative approach of improving metal - ligand covalency by introducing less electronegative chalcogen ligand (sulfur) in the cathode structural framework where the metal dband penetration into ligand p-band thereby utilizing reversible mixed anionic and cationic redox chemistry. Through this design strategy, we report possibility of developing a new family of layered cathode materials when partially filled d orbital redox couples like Fe 2+/3+ are introduced in the Li-ion conducting phase (Li 2 SnS 3 ). Further, the electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) and X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) analysis are used to qualitatively identify the charge contributors at the metal and ligand sites during Li + extraction. The detailed high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) and high annular dark field-scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM) investigation reveal the multi redox induced structural modifications and its surface amorphization with nanopore formation during cycling. Findings from this study will shed light on designing Ni and Co free chalcogen cathodes and various functional materials in the chalcogen based dual anionic and cationic redox cathode avenue.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

As–Se Pentagonal Linkers to Induce Chirality and Polarity in Mixed-Valent Fe–Se Tetrahedral Chains Resulting in Hidden Magnetic Ordering

A novel mixed-valent hybrid chiral and polar compound, Fe 7 As 3 Se 12 (en) 6 (H 2 O), has been synthesized by a single-step solvothermal method. The crystal structure consists of 1D [Fe 5 Se 9 ] chains connected via [As 3 Se 2 ]–Se pentagonal linkers and charge-balancing interstitial [Fe(en) 3 ] 2+ complexes (en = ethylenediamine). Neutron powder diffraction verified that interstitial water molecules participate in the crystal packing. Magnetic polarizability of the produced compound was confirmed by X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) spectroscopy. X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and 57 Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy showed the presence of mixed-valent Fe 2+ /Fe 3+ in the Fe–Se chains. Magnetic susceptibility measurements reveal strong antiferromagnetic nearest neighbor interactions within the chains with no apparent magnetic ordering down to 2 K. Hidden short-range magnetic ordering below 70 K was found by 57 Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy, showing that a fraction of the Fe 3+ /Fe 2+ in the chains are magnetically ordered. Nevertheless, complete magnetic ordering is not achieved even at 6 K. Analysis of XAS spectra demonstrates that the fraction of Fe 3+ in the chain increases with decreasing temperature. Computational analysis points out several competing ferrimagnetic ordered models within a single chain. Here, this competition, together with variation in the Fe oxidation state and additional weak intrachain interactions, is hypothesized to prevent long-range magnetic ordering.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Coercive Fields Exceeding 30 T in the Mixed-Valence Single-Molecule Magnet (Cp iPr5 ) 2 Ho 2 I 3

Mixed-valence dilanthanide complexes of the type (Cp iPr5 ) 2 Ln 2 I 3 (Cp iPr5 = pentaisopropylcyclopentadienyl; Ln = Gd, Tb, Dy) featuring a direct Ln–Ln σ-bonding interaction have been shown to exhibit well-isolated high-spin ground states and, in the case of the Tb and Dy variants, a strong axial magnetic anisotropy that gives rise to a large magnetic coercivity. Here, we report the synthesis and characterization of two new mixed-valence dilanthanide compounds in this series, (Cp iPr5 ) 2 Ln 2 I 3 (1-Ln; Ln = Ho, Er). Both compounds feature a Ln–Ln bonding interaction, the first such interaction in any molecular compounds of Ho or Er. Like the Tb and Dy congeners, both complexes exhibit high-spin ground states arising from strong spin–spin coupling between the lanthanide 4f electrons and a single σ-type lanthanide–lanthanide bonding electron. Beyond these similarities, however, the magnetic properties of the two compounds diverge. In particular, 1-Er does not exhibit observable magnetic blocking or slow magnetic relaxation, while 1-Ho exhibits magnetic blocking below 28 K, which is the highest temperature among Ho-based single-molecule magnets, and a spin reversal barrier of 556(4) cm –1 . Additionally, variable-field magnetization data collected for 1-Ho reveal a coercive field of greater than 32 T below 8 K, more than 6-fold higher than observed for the bulk magnets SmCo 5 and Nd 2 Fe 14 B, and the highest coercive field reported to date for any single-molecule magnet or molecule-based magnetic material. Multiconfigurational calculations, supported by far-infrared magnetospectroscopy data, reveal that the stark differences in magnetic properties of 1-Ho and 1-Er arise from differences in the local magnetic anisotropy of the lanthanide centers.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Mixed-Flux Techniques for Rational Synthesis and Structural Control in Silver Chalcogenides

The functionality of materials is intrinsically linked to their structures, an axiom encapsulated in the principle of structure-property relationships. The pinnacle of materials design is the tailoring of its structure for a specific function, which requires the ability of rational synthesis and the development of synthesis science. This idea, however, remains elusive for the synthesis of complex extended solids. A major obstacle is the difficulty in using established chemical principles selectively to control reaction paths and favor certain structural patterns over numerous other possible results. In this context, we are developing a synthesis science approach that facilitates the control of the structure and bonding to create new structures. This is achieved by employing a two-component flux consisting of mixed hydroxides and halides as the reaction medium. This enables reaction conditions that allow better control of the structure dimensionality and composition by manipulating the temperature and solvent basicity (via the flux component ratio). Here, we demonstrate the efficacy of this method in controlling their structural motifs to arrive at 23 unreported compositions and 6 unique structure types. These materials are expected to exhibit a broad range of properties, from metallic to semiconducting, with calculations suggesting the potential for emergent phenomena such as Dirac semimetals. The reaction paths afforded by these mixed fluxes establish a direct correlation between the synthetic variables and properties, providing significant insight into a broadly applicable approach for new materials.

Zhou, Xiuquan [Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), ↗

Suppressing Phase Segregation and Improving Stability in Mixed-Halide Perovskites through Spinel Oxide-Directed Epitaxy

Mixed-cation mixed-halide perovskite compositions are essential for achieving the required bandgaps for high-efficiency multijunction photovoltaics, yet their stability remains limited by interfacial defects, phase segregation, and degradation. Here, we introduce spinel oxides as a new family of lattice-matched substrates that enable crystalline, phase-pure, compositionally-uniform, bromide-rich perovskite film growth. The effect of spinel oxides is two-fold: reducing defects at the bottom interface by templating film growth and inducing beneficial compressive strain through mismatch-dependent substrate-perovskite lattice coupling. Spinel oxide substrates facilitate growth of highly crystalline films and eliminate detrimental secondary phases across thicknesses. Using grazing incidence X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence, cathodoluminescence–scanning electron microscopy, cryogenic photoluminescence, and density functional theory, we reveal that Mg-halide bonds at the bottom interface induce lattice mismatch-dependent compressive strain that suppresses halide segregation and further reduces defect formation. In addition, films grown on spinel oxides maintain over 87% of the perovskite phase after 12 h under 100% relative humidity, as monitored by in situ grazing incidence wide-angle X-ray scattering (GIWAXS), compared to less than 70% for control samples. This work extends lattice matching from vapor-deposited epitaxial semiconductors to solution-processed halide perovskites to establish a broadly applicable strategy for defect suppression, phase homogenization, and long-term stability. Based on the fundamental science explored here, we set the stage for the development of lattice-matched spinel oxide charge transport layers to be integrated into perovskite solar cells and other optoelectronic devices.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Iron Speciation in PM 2.5 From Urban, Agriculture, and Mixed Environments in Colorado, USA

Atmospheric iron solubility varies depending on whether the particles are collected in rural or urban areas, with urban areas showing increased iron solubility. In this study, we investigate if the iron species present in different environments affects its ultimate solubility. Field data are presented from the Platte River Air Pollution and Photochemistry Experiment (PRAPPE), aimed at understanding the interactions between organic carbon and trace elements in atmospheric particulate matter (PM). 24-hr PM 2.5 samples were collected during the summer and winter (2016–2017), at three different sites on the Eastern Colorado plains: an urban, agricultural, and a mixed site. Downtown Denver had an average total and water-soluble iron air concentration of 181.2 and 7.7 ng m -3 , respectively. Platteville, the mixed site, had an average of total iron of 76.1 ng m -3 , with average water-soluble iron concentration of 9.1 ng m -3 . Jackson State Park (rural/agricultural) had the lowest total iron average of 31.5 ng m -3 and the lowest water-soluble iron average, 1.3 ng m -3 . The iron oxidation state and chemical speciation of 97 samples across all sites and seasons was probed by X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy. The most common iron phases observed were almandine (Fe 3 Al 2 Si 3 O 12 ) (Denver 21%, Platteville 16%, Jackson 24%), magnetite (Fe 3 O 4 ) (Denver 9%, Platteville 4%, Jackson 5%) and Fe (III)dextran (Denver 5%, Platteville 13%, Jackson 5%), a surrogate for Fe-organic complexes. Additionally, native iron [Fe(0)] was found in significant amounts at all sites. No correlation was observed between iron solubility and iron oxidation state or chemical speciation.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Tower-Based Remote Sensing Reveals Mechanisms Behind a Two-phased Spring Transition in a Mixed-Species Boreal Forest

The boreal forest is a major contributor to the global climate system, therefore, reducing uncertainties in how the forest will respond to a changing climate is critical. One source of uncertainty is the timing and drivers of the spring transition. Remote sensing can provide important information on this transition, but persistent foliage greenness, seasonal snow cover, and a high prevalence of mixed forest stands (both deciduous and evergreen species) complicate interpretation of these signals. We collected tower-based remotely sensed data (reflectance-based vegetation indices and Solar-Induced Chlorophyll Fluorescence [SIF]), stem radius measurements, gross primary productivity, and environmental conditions in a boreal mixed forest stand. Evaluation of this data set shows a two-phased spring transition. The first phase is the reactivation of photosynthesis and transpiration in evergreens, marked by an increase in relative SIF, and is triggered by thawed stems, warm air temperatures, and increased available soil moisture. The second phase is a reduction in bulk photoprotective pigments in evergreens, marked by an increase in the Chlorophyll-Carotenoid Index. Deciduous leaf-out occurs during this phase, marked by an increase in all remotely sensed metrics. The second phase is controlled by soil thaw. Our results demonstrate that remote sensing metrics can be used to detect specific physiological changes in boreal tree species during the spring transition. The two-phased transition explains inconsistencies in remote sensing estimates of the timing and drivers of spring recovery. Our results imply that satellite-based observations will improve by using a combination of vegetation indices and SIF, along with species distribution information.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Important ice processes are missed by the Community Earth System Model (CESM) in Southern Ocean mixed–phase clouds: Bridging SOCRATES observations to model developments

Global climate models (GCMs) are challenged by difficulties in simulating cloud phase and cloud radiative effect over the Southern Ocean (SO). Some of the new generation GCMs predict too much liquid and too little ice in mixed-phase clouds. This misrepresentation of cloud phase in GCMs results in weaker negative cloud feedback over the SO and a higher climate sensitivity. Based on a model comparison with observational data obtained during the Southern Ocean Cloud Radiation and Aerosol Transport Experimental Study (SOCRATES), this study addresses a key uncertainty in the Community Earth System Model version 2 (CESM2) related to cloud phase, namely ice formation in pristine remote SO clouds. It is found that sea spray organic aerosols (SSOA) are the most important type of ice nucleating particles (INPs) over the SO with concentrations one order of magnitude higher than those of dust INPs based on measurements and CESM2 simulations. Secondary ice production (SIP) which includes riming splintering, rain droplet shattering, and ice-ice collisional fragmentation as implemented in CESM2 is the dominant ice production process in moderately cold clouds with cloud temperatures greater than –20°C. SIP enhances the in-cloud ice number concentrations (Ni) by 1-3 orders of magnitude and predicts more mixed-phase (with percentage occurrence increased from 15% to 21%), in better agreement with the observations. Finally, this study highlights the importance of accurately representing cloud phase over the pristine remote SO by considering the ice nucleation of SSOA and SIP processes, which are currently missing in most GCM cloud microphysics parameterizations.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Hemispheric Asymmetry of Phase Partition in Mixed‐Phase Clouds Based on Near Global‐Scale Airborne Observations

Mixed-phase clouds contribute to substantial uncertainties in global climate models due to their complex microphysical properties. Former model evaluations almost exclusively rely on satellite observations to assess cloud phase distributions globally. This study investigated mixed-phase cloud properties using near global-scale in situ observation data sets from 14 flight campaigns in combination with collocated output from a global climate model. The Southern Hemisphere (SH) shows significantly higher occurrence frequencies and higher mass fractions of supercooled liquid water than Northern Hemisphere (NH) based on observations at 0.2 and 100 km horizontal scales. Such hemispheric asymmetry is not captured by the model. The model also consistently overestimates liquid water content (LWC) in all cloud phases but shows ice water content (IWC) biases that vary with phase. Key processes contributing to model biases in phase partition can be identified through the combination of evaluation of phase frequency, liquid mass fraction, LWC and IWC.

Yang, Ching An [San Jose State University, CA (Uni↗

Semi‐Volatile Organic Partitioning Improves Simulation of Biomass Burning Aerosol Mixing State Evolution

Biomass burning aerosols significantly contribute to atmospheric composition and radiative forcing, with black carbon (BC) mixing states critically influencing optical properties and climate impacts. Recent field observations reveal a systematic three‐phase evolution in BC coating thickness during plume aging: rapid initial growth, quasi‐equilibrium, and gradual coating loss. Current models misrepresent this evolution due to oversimplified treatment of organic aerosol volatility. Here we demonstrate that incorporating semi‐volatile organic partitioning through the MATRIX‐VBS model fundamentally improves simulation accuracy compared to traditional non‐volatile approaches. Evaluation against four field campaigns spanning fresh to aged plumes shows MATRIX‐VBS successfully captures the observed three‐phase pattern, and global application reveals universal three‐phase evolution with substantial regional variations. These advances address critical gaps in aerosol mixing state representation and provide essential improvements for climate model predictions in wildfire‐affected regions.

Gao, Chloe Yuchao [Fudan Univ., Shanghai (China); ↗

Enhancing Turbulent Mixing and Microphysical Uniformity in a Tall Convection‐Cloud Chamber Through Idealized Heterogeneity of Boundaries

A large convection cloud chamber has been proposed for exploring aerosol–cloud–drizzle interactions under well‐controlled turbulent conditions. Recent theoretical and numerical studies suggest that a convection cloud chamber with two heated and two cooled sidewalls can significantly enhance the liquid water content and thus benefit drizzle initiation. However, a chamber with such a sidewall configuration develops stable stratification and extremely weak turbulence therein. In this study, we conduct large‐eddy simulations of a tall convection chamber with five different sidewall configurations consisting of alternating warm and cold patches. For each configuration, the total surface area of warm patches equals that of cold patches, resulting in the same expected cloud‐free supersaturation based on a flux budget model. Results show that changing the sidewall configuration, while keeping all other factors constant, can substantially enhance turbulent mixing and improve the uniformity of thermodynamic and cloud microphysical properties in the bulk region of the chamber. In addition, turbulence strength is positively correlated with liquid water content and negatively correlated with cloud droplet number concentration, consistent with theoretical predictions. Our results highlight the advantage of building a large cloud chamber using modular patches with individually controllable temperature and humidity to achieve well‐mixed conditions.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Gate-tunable plasmons in mixed-dimensional van der Waals heterostructures

Abstract Surface plasmons, collective electromagnetic excitations coupled to conduction electron oscillations, enable the manipulation of light–matter interactions at the nanoscale. Plasmon dispersion of metallic structures depends sensitively on their dimensionality and has been intensively studied for fundamental physics as well as applied technologies. Here, we report possible evidence for gate-tunable hybrid plasmons from the dimensionally mixed coupling between one-dimensional (1D) carbon nanotubes and two-dimensional (2D) graphene. In contrast to the carrier density-independent 1D Luttinger liquid plasmons in bare metallic carbon nanotubes, plasmon wavelengths in the 1D-2D heterostructure are modulated by 75% via electrostatic gating while retaining the high figures of merit of 1D plasmons. We propose a theoretical model to describe the electromagnetic interaction between plasmons in nanotubes and graphene, suggesting plasmon hybridization as a possible origin for the observed large plasmon modulation. The mixed-dimensional plasmonic heterostructures may enable diverse designs of tunable plasmonic nanodevices.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Tuning magnetoelectricity in a mixed-anisotropy antiferromagnet

Control of magnetization and electric polarization is attractive in relation to tailoring materials for data storage and devices such as sensors or antennae. In magnetoelectric materials, these degrees of freedom are closely coupled, allowing polarization to be controlled by a magnetic field, and magnetization by an electric field, but the magnitude of the effect remains a challenge in the case of single-phase magnetoelectrics for applications. We demonstrate that the magnetoelectric properties of the mixed-anisotropy antiferromagnet LiNi 1-x Fe x PO 4 are profoundly affected by partial substitution of Ni 2+ ions with Fe 2+ on the transition metal site. This introduces random site-dependent single-ion anisotropy energies and causes a lowering of the magnetic symmetry of the system. In turn, magnetoelectric couplings that are symmetry-forbidden in the parent compounds, LiNiPO 4 and LiFePO 4 , are unlocked and the dominant coupling is enhanced by almost two orders of magnitude. Our results demonstrate the potential of mixed-anisotropy magnets for tuning magnetoelectric properties.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗