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At least 1,513 records · Page 84

Half-metallic ferromagnetism in full-Heusler compounds ACaX{sub 2} (A = K and Rb; X = N and O)

Electronic structure and magnetic properties of hypothetical ACaX{sub 2} (A = K and Rb; X= N and O) compounds in full-Heusler phase have been investigated based on density functional theory (DFT) within the local density approximation (LDA). The electronic band structures and density of states of these compounds show that the spin-down electrons have metallic, and the spin-up electrons have a semi conducting gap resulting in stable half-metallic ferromagnetic behaviour. The strong spin polarization of 2p states of N and O atoms is found to be the origin of ferromagnetism which results in a total magnetic moment of 3{sub μB} and 1{sub μB} respectively.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Grain boundary and its hydrogenated effect in stanene

The geometric and electronic properties of grain boundary (GB) in two-dimensional (2D) stanene have been investigated by first-principles calculations. Four typical GB structures with particularly low formation energies were found. These extended defects act as quasi-one-dimensional semiconductor or metallic wires depending on their geometric structures. Moreover, they are reactive and the adsorption of H atoms at the GB region is more stable than the stanene bulk region. A single H adsorption poses a drastic effect on the electronic behavior of GB defects, and the band structures can be tuned by the coverages of H adsorption at these GB defects in stanene. The present results indicate that GBs are important defects in stanene which may be useful for nanomaterial devices.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗

Half-Integer Quantized Topological Response in Quasiperiodically Driven Quantum Systems

A spin strongly driven by two harmonic incommensurate drives can pump energy from one drive to the other at a quantized average rate, in close analogy with the quantum Hall effect. The pumping rate is a nonzero integer in the topological regime, while the trivial regime does not pump. The dynamical transition between the regimes is sharp in the zero-frequency limit and is characterized by a Dirac point in a synthetic band structure. We show that the pumping rate is half-integer quantized at the transition and present universal Kibble-Zurek scaling functions for energy transfer processes. Finally, our results adapt ideas from quantum phase transitions, quantum information, and topological band theory to nonequilibrium dynamics, and identify qubit experiments to observe the universal linear and nonlinear response of a Dirac point in synthetic dimensions.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Ternary CaCu{sub 4}P{sub 2}-type pnictides AAg{sub 4}Pn{sub 2} (A=Sr, Eu; Pn=As, Sb)

Four ternary pnictides AAg{sub 4}Pn{sub 2} (A=Sr, Eu; Pn=As, Sb) were prepared by reactions of the elements at 850 Degree-Sign C and their crystal structures were determined from single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies. These silver-containing pnictides AAg{sub 4}Pn{sub 2} adopt the trigonal CaCu{sub 4}P{sub 2}-type structure (Pearson symbol hR21, space group R3-bar m, Z=3; a=4.5555(6) A, c=24.041(3) A for SrAg{sub 4}As{sub 2}; a=4.5352(2) A, c=23.7221(11) A for EuAg{sub 4}As{sub 2}; a=4.7404(4) A, c=25.029(2) A for SrAg{sub 4}Sb{sub 2}; a=4.7239(3) A, c=24.689(2) A for EuAg{sub 4}Sb{sub 2}), which can be derived from the trigonal CaAl{sub 2}Si{sub 2}-type structure of the isoelectronic zinc-containing pnictides AZn{sub 2}Pn{sub 2} by insertion of additional Ag atoms into trigonal planar sites within [M{sub 2}Pn{sub 2}]{sup 2-} slabs built up of edge-sharing tetrahedra. Band structure calculations on SrAg{sub 4}As{sub 2} and SrAg{sub 4}Sb{sub 2} revealed that these charge-balanced Zintl phases actually exhibit no gap at the Fermi level and are predicted to be semimetals. - Graphical abstract: SrAg{sub 4}As{sub 2} and related pnictides adopt a CaCu{sub 4}P{sub 2}-type structure in which additional Ag atoms enter trigonal planar sites within slabs built from edge-sharing tetrahedra. Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer AAg{sub 4}Pn{sub 2} are the first Ag-containing members of the CaCu{sub 4}P{sub 2}-type structure. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Ag atoms are stuffed in trigonal planar sites within CaAl{sub 2}Si{sub 2}-type slabs. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Ag-Ag bonding develops through attractive d{sup 10}-d{sup 10} interactions.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Enormous electron-electron scattering in the filled-cage cubic compound B a 10 T i 24 B i 39

Cubic intermetallic compound Ba 10 Ti 24 Bi 39 has a Ba 6 Bi 16 polyhedral cage with a Bi guest atom encapsulated inside. The compound can be formulated as Ba 5 Ti 12 Bi$_{19+x}$ when $x$ signifies the extra Bi atoms filling cages. It crystallizes in a complex noncentrosymmetric cubic structure in space group $P-43m$ with cell parameter $a = 12.6787(4)Å$. The guest Bi atoms distribute diffusely in the cages and seem to play a role in stabilizing the crystal structure. The magnetic susceptibility of this compound shows a weak temperature dependence with a positive slope coefficient. The charge transport properties as a function of temperature exhibit two competing components which are in charge of positive and negative magnetoresistances. Electronic band-structure calculations reveal the complex multiband hybridization of Ti/Bi orbitals near the Fermi surface, which may play a role in the enormous electron-electron scattering in this material evidenced by the large Kadowaki-Woods ratio.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Real-Time Observation of Nanoscale Kink Band Mediated Plasticity in Ion-Irradiated Graphite: An In Situ TEM Study

Graphite IG-110 is a synthetic polycrystalline material used as a neutron moderator in reactors. Graphite is inherently brittle and is known to exhibit a further increase in brittleness due to radiation damage at room temperature. To understand the irradiation effects on pre-existing defects and their overall influence on external load, micropillar compression tests were performed using in situ nanoindentation in the Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) for both pristine and ion-irradiated samples. While pristine specimens showed brittle and subsequent catastrophic failure, the 2.8 MeV Au2+ ion (fluence of 4.378 × 1014 cm−2) irradiated specimens sustained extensive plasticity at room temperature without failure. In situ TEM characterization showed nucleation of nanoscale kink band structures at numerous sites, where the localized plasticity appeared to close the defects and cracks while allowing large average strain. We propose that compressive mechanical stress due to dimensional change during ion irradiation transforms buckled basal layers in graphite into kink bands. The externally applied load during the micropillar tests proliferates the nucleation and motion of kink bands to accommodate the large plastic strain. The inherent non-uniformity of graphite microstructure promotes such strain localization, making kink bands the predominant mechanism behind unprecedented toughness in an otherwise brittle material.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Photocurrent enhancement of perovskite heterojunction by plasmonic nanoparticles and ferroelectric polarization

Perovskite oxides—Pb{sub 0.86}La{sub 0.14}TiO{sub 3} (PLT), AgNbO{sub 3} (ANO), and SrTiO{sub 3} (STO)—were deposited consecutively on ITO/glass substrates to form layered composite photoelectrodes. These materials were chosen for their specific electronic band structures to form efficient photocatalytic heterojunctions and similar crystalline structures to minimize interface defects. Two additional methods were adopted to increase the photocurrent density of the composites: (1) plasmonic gold nanoparticles were introduced at the PLT/ITO interface to enhance light scattering and absorption while not becoming electron trapping centers and (2) the ferroelectric PLT layer was electrically poled toward the ANO layer to create a favorable band bending for electron transfer.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Observation of an Unexpected n -Type Semiconducting Behavior in the New Ternary Zintl Phase Eu 3 InAs 3

The ternary arsenides Eu 3 InAs 3 and Sr 3 InAs 3 have been obtained by reactions of the elements in In flux at 1373 K. Structure elucidation by single-crystal X-ray diffraction reveals that Eu 3 InAs 3 and Sr 3 InAs 3 adopt the same orthorhombic structure (space group Pnma, Z = 4, Ca 3 AlAs 3 structure type) with unit cell parameters a = 12.9179(9) Å, b = 4.3990(3) Å, c = 13.9337(10) Å and a = 13.0218(11) Å, b = 4.4364(4) Å, c = 14.1339(12) Å, respectively. The structure consists of linear chains of corner-sharing InAs4 tetrahedra, [InAs 2 As 2/2 ] 6– , and Eu 2+ /Sr 2+ cations. Therefore, both Eu 3 InAs 3 and Sr 3 InAs 3 are valence-precise Zintl phases. As expected from the closed-shell electronic configurations, semiconducting behavior is confirmed by resistivity measurements on single crystals for both and by electronic band structure calculations for Sr 3 InAs 3 . The temperature dependence of resistivity and the computational work are in agreement that Eu 3 InAs 3 and Sr 3 InAs 3 are intrinsic semiconductors with narrow band gaps. Thermopower measurement on single-crystalline samples of Eu 3 InAs 3 shows that in the whole measured temperature range, from 300 to 700 K, the values for the Seebeck coefficient are negative. The observation of a negative Seebeck coefficient with very large absolute value (>400–500 μV K –1 at 700 K) is unexpected among the Zintl phases and suggestive that electrons are the majority charge carriers. Such a rare, n-type charge transport in an undoped compound such as Eu 3 InAs 3 , a material that has not been purposely optimized, could indicate native “defect” chemistry, and not extrinsic doping, as a reason for the unusual behavior. Here, a possible explanation involves a mixed-valent Eu 2+ /Eu 3+ state, which might be inferred from the measured effective paramagnetic moment of 7.2 μB per Eu atom, which is lower than the theoretically predicted value for free-ion moment of 7.9 μ B /Eu.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

On magnetic structure of CuFe 2 Ge 2 : Constrains from the 57 Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy

57 Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy measurements were performed on a powdered CuFe 2 Ge 2 sample that orders antiferromagnetically at ~175 K. Whereas a paramagnetic doublet was observed above the Néel temperature, a superposition of paramagnetic doublet and magnetic sextet (in approximately 0.5:0.5 ratio) was observed in the magnetically ordered state, suggesting a magnetic structure similar to a double-Q spin density wave with half of the Fe paramagnetic and another half bearing static moment of ~0.5–1μ B . Lastly, these results call for a re-evaluation of the recent neutron scattering data and band structure calculations, as well as for deeper examination of details of sample preparation techniques.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Local atomic structure and lattice defect analysis in heavily Co-doped ZnS thin films using X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy

Iin this work, X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) spectroscopy was used to address both the local atomic structure and the local electronic structure around Zn, Co, and S in Co-doped ZnS thin films. X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy (XANES) revealed changes in the strong pre-edge feature of the S K-edge spectra that depend on the Co concentration and are related to atomic bound-state transitions through hybridization between $3d$ transition metal and $sp$ host semiconductor electronic states. These changes reveal intrinsic effects, such as S vacancies and dopant effects. From the Co K-edge XANES spectra, substitution of Co 2+ into ZnS is observed. The local atomic structure around the dopant, obtained by XAFS spectroscopy, indicates a reduction of the Co–S bond length. Optical analysis shows deep absorption centers or intermediate states in the bandgap, ascribed to $d$-$d$ transitions in the Co atoms that modify the electronic band structure and cause a decrease in the bandgap as a function of Co concentration. This work provides direct evidence of dopant effects in heavily Co-doped ZnS, including bond distances and Debye-Waller factors, providing key elements to generate a realistic atomic structural model, which is crucial to understand the observed electronic properties of this material.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Micrometre-scale single-crystalline borophene on a square-lattice Cu(100) surface

Borophene, a crystalline monolayer boron sheet, is a new two-dimensional (2D) quantum material, predicted to feature tunable structure, intriguing physics and to find applications in flexible electronics, energy storage and catalysis. Nanoscale borophene flakes have been synthesized on noble-metal surfaces, but for device fabrication, one needs large single-crystal domains. In this work, we report the synthesis of borophene on a square lattice Cu(100) surface and show that incommensurate coordinations could reduce the borophene-substrate interactions and alter the borophene structures in interesting ways. Micrometer-scale single-crystal domains can form as isolated faceted islands or merge together to achieve full monolayer coverage. We have discovered a new crystal structure of borophene, with ten boron atoms and two hexagonal vacancies in the unit cell. First-principle calculations indicate that charge transfer rather than covalent bonding binds 2D boron to the copper surface, and confirm its integrity and uniformity The electronic band structure features multiple anisotropic tilted Dirac cones, heralding emergent quantum fermions.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Magnetic structure of UO 2 and NpO 2 by first-principle methods

Here, the magnetic structure of the actinide dioxides (AnO 2 ) remains a field of intense research. A low-temperature experimental investigation of the magnetic ground-state is complicated by thermal energy released from the radioactive decay of the actinide nuclei. To establish the magnetic ground-state, we have employed high-accuracy computational methods to systematically probe different magnetic structures. A transverse 1k antiferromagnetic ground-state with Fmmm (No. 69) crystal symmetry has been established for UO 2 , whereas a ferromagnetic (111) ground-state with R¯3 with combining macron]m (No. 166) has been established for NpO 2 . Band structure calculations have been performed to analyse these results.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Structural, electronic, and magnetic properties of single MnAs nanoclusters in GaAs

MnAs nanoclusters in GaAs were investigated with cross-sectional scanning tunneling microscopy. The topographic images reveal that the small clusters have the same zinc-blende crystal structure as the host material, while the larger clusters grow in a hexagonal crystal phase. The initial Mn concentration during molecular beam epitaxy growth has a strong influence on the size of the clusters that form during the annealing step. The local band structure of a single MnAs cluster is probed with scanning tunneling spectroscopy, revealing a Coulomb blockade effect that correlates with the size of the cluster. With a spin-sensitive tip, for the smaller clusters, superparamagnetic switching between two distinct states is observed at T = 77 K. The larger clusters do not change their magnetic state at this temperature, i.e., they are superferromagnetic, confirming that they are responsible for the ferromagnetic behavior of this material at room-temperature.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Structural, electronic and optical properties of La{sub x}Sc{sub 1-x}Sb alloys

We present calculations of the structural, electronic and optic properties of LaxSc1-xSb ternary alloys for 0≤x≤1, by using the first principle full potential linear muffin-tin orbital (FPLMTO) method based on the local density approximation (LDA). the lattice constant, bulk modulus, electronic band structures, density of state and optical properties such as dielectric functions, refractive index and extinction coefficient are calculated and discussed for (x=0.25, 0.5 and 0.75). Our results agree well with the available data in the literature.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Robust antiferromagnetism in Y 2 Co 3

We report on a solution-growth based method to synthesise single crystals of Y 2 Co 3 and on its structural and magnetic properties. We find that Y 2 Co 3 crystallizes in the La 2 Ni 3 -type orthorhombic structure with space group Cmce (No. 64), with Co forming distorted kagome lattices. Y 2 Co 3 orders antiferromagnetically below TN=252 K. Magnetization measurements reveal that the moments are primarily aligned along the b axis with evidence for some canting. Band-structure calculations indicate that ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic orders are nearly degenerate, at odds with experimental results. Magnetization measurements under pressure up to 1 GPa reveal that the Néel temperature decreases with the slope of -1.69 K/GPa. We observe a field-induced spin-flop transition in the magnetization measurements at 1.5 K and 21 T with magnetic field along the b direction. The magnetization is not saturated up to 35 T, indicating that the antiferromagnetic ordering in Y 2 Co 3 is quite robust, which is surprising for such a Co-rich intermetallic.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Pressure-induced multiple phase transformations of the BaBi 3 superconductor

Measurements of temperature-dependent resistance and magnetization under hydrostatic pressures up to 2.13 GPa are reported for single-crystalline, superconducting BaBi 3 . A temperature-pressure phase diagram is determined and the results suggest three different superconducting phases α, β, and γ in the studied pressure range. We further show that the occurrence of the three superconducting phases is intuitively linked to phase transitions at higher temperature, which are likely first order and structural in nature. With the α phase being the ambient-pressure tetragonal structure ( P 4/mmm), our first-principles calculations suggest the β phase has a cubic structure ( P m–3m) and the γ phase has a distorted tetragonal structure where the Bi atoms are moved out of the face-centered position. Finally, an analysis of the evolution of the superconducting upper critical field with pressure further confirms these transitions in the superconducting state and suggests a possible change of band structure or a Lifshitz transition near 1.54 GPa in γ phase. As a result, given the large atomic numbers of both Ba and Bi, our results establish BaBi 3 as a good candidate for the study of the interplay of structure with superconductivity in the presence of strong spin-orbit coupling.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Preparation, magnetism and electronic structures of cadmium technetates

Due to the scarcity of the artificial transition metal technetium, studies on the solid-state properties of its oxides have been rarely undertaken. We have prepared a new technetium metal oxide system that include the 4d metal in two separate oxidation states and have characterized the new phases' crystal structures and magnetic properties. One phase Cd{sub 2}Tc{sub 2}O{sub 7} was prepared through the vapor-phase reaction of the heptaoxide Tc{sub 2}O{sub 7} with Cd metal; the other phase, CdTcO{sub 3}, was prepared through the solid state reaction of TcO{sub 2} with CdO. High-resolution synchrotron X-ray diffraction was used to characterize the crystal structures and stoichiometries of the two new technetates. At room temperature, Cd{sub 2}Tc{sub 2}O{sub 7} takes on the pyrochlore structure with a = 10.18118(1) {angstrom}, space group, Fd{bar 3}m and Z = 8. CdTcO{sub 3} has the GdFeO{sub 3}-type structure with space group Pbnm and a = 5.38881(1) {angstrom}, b = 5.46504(1) {angstrom}, and c = 7.71272(1){angstrom}. The magnetic susceptibility behavior of Cd{sub 2}Tc{sub 2}O{sub 7} is strikingly similar to that observed in Cd{sub 2}Re{sub 2}O{sub 7}, with a broad transition close to 200 K. The magnetic behavior of Cd{sub 2}Tc{sub 2}O{sub 7} is also compared with that of isomorphous Pb{sub 2}Tc{sub 2}O{sub 6} and Bi{sub 2}Tc{sub 2}O{sub 7}, also presented in this study. The magnetic susceptibility of the distorted perovskite phase CdTcO{sub 3} is weakly temperature dependent, with no obvious signs of an ordering transition below 300 K. Electronic band structure calculations performed to simulate electronic densities of states indicate that the Fermi level is located in a 't{sub 2g}' band of the octahedrally coordinated Tc cations and therefore metallic conductivity in both CdTcO{sub 3} and Cd{sub 2}Tc{sub 2}O{sub 7}.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Drastic enhancement of magnetic critical temperature and amorphization in topological magnet EuSn 2 P 2 under pressure

High pressure is an effective tool to induce exotic quantum phenomena in magnetic topological insulators by controlling the interplay of magnetic order and topological state. This work presents a comprehensive high-pressure study of the crystal structure and magnetic ground state up to 62 GPa in an intrinsic topological magnet EuSn 2 P 2 . With a combination of high resolution X-ray diffraction, 151 Eu synchrotron Mössbauer spectroscopy, X-ray absorption spectroscopy, molecular orbital calculations, and electronic band structure calculations, it has been revealed that pressure drives EuSn 2 P 2 from a rhombohedral crystal to an amorphous phase at 36 GPa accompanied by a fourfold enhancement of magnetic ordering temperature. In the pressure-induced amorphous phase, Eu ions take an intermediate valence state. The drastic enhancement of magnetic ordering temperature from 30 K at ambient pressure to 130 K at 41.2 GPa resulting from Ruderman–Kittel–Kasuya–Yosida (RKKY) interactions likely attributes to the stronger Eu–Sn interaction at high pressure. These rich results demonstrate that EuSn 2 P 2 is an ideal platform to study the correlation of the enhanced RKKY interactions, disordered lattice, intermediate valence, and topological state.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗