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Quantification of Dynamic Scattering Effects in Molecular Crystals using Large Angle Rocking Beam Electron Diffraction

Electron crystallography provides a pathway to solve structure of small crystals (< 1um) in size, and thus overcomes difficult synthesis constraints involved in growing large crystals. Generally, electron diffraction data is collected in the form of integrated intensity using continuous rotation or by precession. The measured intensities in 3D are utilized for structure solution. Using this approach, structure solution of difficult crystals, such as small crystals of zeolites, metal-organic frameworks, molecular crystals, and proteins , can be solved by electron diffraction. However, electron structure solutions are regularly reported with higher Rvalues than x-ray or neutron diffraction. While similar structures are found despite the high R-values, the differences in the measure intensity and theory calculated intensity limit information that can be extracted by electron diffraction. Previous work demonstrated that including multiple-scattering effects significantly reduce the R-values . Thus, it is critical to be able to quantify the dynamical diffraction effects in molecular crystals.

Crystallography↗

Studies on synthesis, growth, structural, optical properties of organic 8-hydroxyquinolinium succinate single crystals

8-hydroxyquinolinium succinate (8HQSU), an organic material has been synthesized and single crystals were grown by employing the technique of slow evaporation. The structure of the grown crystal was elucidated by using single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. 8HQSU crystal belongs to the monoclinic crystallographic system with non-centro symmetric space group of P2{sub 1}. FT-IR spectral investigation has been carried out to identify the various functional groups present in the grown crystal. UV–vis spectral studies reveal that 8HQSU crystals are transparent in the entire visible region and the cut-off wavelength has been found to be 220nm.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Growth of <001> TGCC crystals by Sankaranarayanan–Ramasamy (SR) method and its characterization

Single crystals of tris (glycine) Calcium (II) dichloride (TGCC) were successfully grown by Sankaranarayanan-Ramasamy (SR) method and conventional slow evaporation solution technique which have the sizes of 40 mm in length, 20 mm in diameter and 10×10×3 mm{sup 3} respectively. The grown TGCC crystals have been subjected to single crystal X-ray diffraction, UV-Vis NIR studies, Vickers micro hardness analysis, laser damage and SHG analysis. The transmittance of the grown crystal was analyzed by recording UV-Vis-NIR analysis. Mechanical strength of the SR method grown crystals was higher than the conventional method grown crystal.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Electrical-transport, magnetoresistance and magnetic properties of La{sub 0.7}Ca{sub 0.3}MnO{sub 3} and La{sub 0.7}Ca{sub 0.24}Sr{sub 0.06}MnO{sub 3} single crystals

We report the electrical-transport, magnetoresistance and magnetic properties of the hole doped La{sub 0.7}Ca{sub 0.3}MnO{sub 3} (LCMO) and La{sub 0.7}Ca{sub 0.24}Sr{sub 0.06}MnO{sub 3} (LCSMO) single crystals. It was prepared using floating zone technique. The resistivity data shows the metal to insulator transition (T{sub MI}) occurs at 211 K along c-axis and T{sub MI} = 185 K the ab-plane for LCMO and T{sub MI} = 290 K along the c-axis and T{sub MI} = 280 K along the ab-plane for LCSMO single crystals. It is observed that the T{sub MI} is higher along the c-axis as compared to that in the ab-plane, consequently signifying more favorable hoping of electrons is along the c-axis. The ac-susceptibility measurement shows that this material exhibits ferromagnetic to paramagnetic transition temperature (TC) at 206 K for LCMO and T{sub C} = 277 K for LCSMO single crystals. For magnetic memory device application point of view, the sample shows the maximum MR of 98% for LCMO and 80% for LCSMO single crystals at 8T applied magnetic field. Doping small amount of Sr (0.06%) reveals that the electronic and magnetic phase transition in CMR single crystal increases substantially and useful for device application. This is first time such type of comparative study in these manganite single crystals.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Growth and surface topography of WSe{sub 2} single crystal

Tungsten Di-Selenide belongs to the family of TMDCs showing their potential applications in the fields of Optoelectronics and PEC solar cells. Here in the present investigation single crystals of WSe{sub 2} were grown by Direct Vapour Transport Technique in a dual zone furnace having temperature difference of 50 K between the two zones. These single crystals were characterized by EDAX which confirms the stiochiometry of the grown crystals. Surface topography of the crystal was studied by optical micrograph showing the left handed spirals on the surface of WSe{sub 2} crystals. Single crystalline nature of the crystals was confirmed by SAED.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Tunable bandgap in hybrid perovskite CH{sub 3}NH{sub 3}Pb(Br{sub 3−y}X{sub y}) single crystals and photodetector applications

We report the synthesis of CH{sub 3}NH{sub 3}Pb(Br{sub 3−y}X{sub y}) (X=Cl and I) single crystals via a stepwise temperature control approach. High-quality CH{sub 3}NH{sub 3}Pb(Br{sub 3−y}X{sub y}) crystals with a tunable bandgap from 1.92 eV to 2.53 eV have been prepared successfully in this way. And further experiments revealed the influence of halogen content and preparation temperature on the structural and optical properties of these crystals. It is observed that chlorine can lower the critical nucleation energy, which results in crystallizing at lower temperature with the chlorine content increasing, while the nucleation energy increases slowly with increasing iodine content. Moreover, in contrast to Frank–van der Merwe growth with low heating rate, high heating rate leads to a mass of small size single crystals and Stranski-Krastanov growth. The single crystals with tunable band gap and impressive characteristics enable us to fabricate high performance photodetectors for different wavelengths.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Demonstration of femtosecond X-ray pump X-ray probe diffraction on protein crystals

The development of X-ray free-electron lasers (XFELs) has opened the possibility to investigate the ultrafast dynamics of biomacromolecules using X-ray diffraction. Whereas an increasing number of structures solved by means of serial femtosecond crystallography at XFELs is available, the effect of radiation damage on protein crystals during ultrafast exposures has remained an open question. We used a split-and-delay line based on diffractive X-ray optics at the Linac Coherent Light Source XFEL to investigate the time dependence of X-ray radiation damage to lysozyme crystals. For these tests, crystals were delivered to the X-ray beam using a fixed-target approach. The presented experiments provide probe signals at eight different delay times between 19 and 213 femtoseconds after a single pump event, thereby covering the time-scales relevant for femtosecond serial crystallography. Even though significant impact on the crystals was observed at long time scales after exposure with a single X-ray pulse, the collected diffraction data did not show significant signal reduction that could be assigned to beam damage on the crystals in the sampled time window and resolution range. This observation is in agreement with estimations of the applied radiation dose, which in our experiment was clearly below the values expected to cause damage on the femtosecond time scale. The experiments presented here demonstrate the feasibility of time-resolved pump-multiprobe X-ray diffraction experiments on protein crystals.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Elucidating the nature of crystallization kinetics in Zr 46 Cu 46 Al 8 metallic glass through simultaneous WAXS/SAXS measurements

Simultaneous wide- and small-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS/SAXS) measurements were performed to investigate the low-temperature crystallization kinetics of Zr 46 Cu 46 Al 8 bulk metallic glass during isothermal annealing. Quantitative analysis of the WAXS intensity data indicated that the crystallization process was dominated by steady-state homogeneous nucleation and three-dimensional diffusion-controlled growth. This observation was corroborated by quantitative analysis of the SAXS data showing a saturation of the growth of nanoscale crystallites. Comparison of simultaneously measured WAXS and SAXS data showed evidence of composition fluctuation prior to crystallization, suggesting that the crystallization was facilitated by nanoscale phase separation which established regions of favorable compositions catalyzing crystallization. The temperature dependence of crystallization mechanisms and the resulting microstructures in metallic glass are discussed.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Topography of bent crystals with microradian resolution in one dimension

Optimum performance in x-ray imaging and spectroscopy of plasmas with bent crystals is achievable only when the crystal reflects the x rays theoretically perfectly across its entire surface. However, typical thin quartz (101̄1) crystal samples kept flat by direct attachment to a flat substrate reflect 8 keV x rays differently across their surface, on a scale comparable to the ideal rocking curve. Additional processing improves the uniformity. Irradiation of flat crystals with collimated, monochromatic x rays in rocking curve topography shows such problems directly, with microradian resolution. Nonuniform x-ray reflection is more difficult to document for strongly bent crystals because, then, monochromatic, collimated x rays satisfy the Bragg condition only along a narrow stripe that may be too narrow to resolve with the available cameras. However, it can be resolved with a knife edge that moves through the reflected x rays with the necessary spatial precision as demonstrated here for a bent silicon crystal. This shows qualitatively similar imperfections in the reflection as flat quartz and as the bent quartz analyzers reported on previously with lower resolution.

Pereira, N. R. (ORCID:0000000290569596)↗

Two-dimensional perovskite heterostructures for single crystal semiconductor devices

Two-dimensional (2D) perovskites have gained much attention lately owing to their excellent optoelectronic properties, chemical tunability, and environmental stability. Multiple methods have been devised to synthesize high quality 2D perovskite single crystals, and recent progress in fabricating its heterostructures is notable as well. In particular, with growing interest in 2D van der Waals heterostructures, 2D perovskites have become a strong candidate as a new building block for heterostructures to reveal unique physical properties across different interfaces. Until now, various heterostructure devices of 2D perovskite single crystals with other types of 2D materials such as transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) and graphene have been studied, which have shown intriguing results including interlayer excitons and enhanced electronic properties. Here, we introduce various synthetic approaches to realize 2D perovskite single crystals and unique characteristics of their single crystal heterostructures fabricated with precision, possessing sharp interfaces. Moreover, recent studies of semiconductor devices based on 2D perovskite single crystal heterostructures are discussed in-depth. New perspectives to further the horizon in the field of 2D perovskite heterostructures are suggested in this work including the consideration of metal–2D material van der Waals contact, application of dry transfer techniques, electric bias driven ion diffusion studies, and nanocrystal array fabrication. 2D perovskite heterostructure single crystal devices factoring in these novel perspectives will further uncover the true potential of these materials for highly efficient and stable semiconductor devices.

Physics↗

Crystal structure of the adenosine A 2A receptor bound to an antagonist reveals a potential allosteric pocket

The adenosine A 2A receptor (A 2A R) has long been implicated in cardiovascular disorders. As more selective A 2A R ligands are being identified, its roles in other disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease, are starting to emerge, and A 2A R antagonists are important drug candidates for nondopaminergic anti-Parkinson treatment. Here we report the crystal structure of A 2A receptor bound to compound 1 (Cmpd-1), a novel A 2A R/ N -methyl d -aspartate receptor subtype 2B (NR2B) dual antagonist and potential anti-Parkinson candidate compound, at 3.5 Å resolution. The A 2A receptor with a cytochrome b562-RIL (BRIL) fusion (A 2A R–BRIL) in the intracellular loop 3 (ICL3) was crystallized in detergent micelles using vapor-phase diffusion. Whereas A 2A R–BRIL bound to the antagonist ZM241385 has previously been crystallized in lipidic cubic phase (LCP), structural differences in the Cmpd-1–bound A 2A R–BRIL prevented formation of the lattice observed with the ZM241385–bound receptor. The crystals grew with a type II crystal lattice in contrast to the typical type I packing seen from membrane protein structures crystallized in LCP. Cmpd-1 binds in a position that overlaps with the native ligand adenosine, but its methoxyphenyl group extends to an exosite not previously observed in other A 2A R structures. Structural analysis revealed that Cmpd-1 binding results in the unique conformations of two tyrosine residues, Tyr9 1.35 and Tyr271 7.36 , which are critical for the formation of the exosite. As a result, the structure reveals insights into antagonist binding that are not observed in other A 2A R structures, highlighting flexibility in the binding pocket that may facilitate the development of A 2A R-selective compounds for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

Beam test evaluation of electromagnetic calorimeter modules made from proton-damaged PbWO 4 crystals

The performance of electromagnetic calorimeter modules made of proton-irradiated PbWO 4 crystals has been studied in beam tests. The modules, similar to those used in the Endcaps of the CMS electromagnetic calorimeter (ECAL), were formed from 5×5 matrices of PbWO 4 crystals, which had previously been exposed to 24 GeV protons up to integrated fluences between 2.1 × 10 13 and 1.3 × 10 14 cm –2 . These correspond to the predicted charged-hadron fluences in the ECAL Endcaps at pseudorapidity η = 2.6 after about 500 fb –1 and 3000 fb –1 respectively, corresponding to the end of the LHC and High Luminosity LHC operation periods. The irradiated crystals have a lower light transmission for wavelengths corresponding to the scintillation light, and a correspondingly reduced light output. A comparison with four crystals irradiated in situ in CMS showed no significant rate dependence of hadron-induced damage. A degradation of the energy resolution and a non-linear response to electron showers are observed in damaged crystals. Direct measurements of the light output from the crystals show the amplitude decreasing and pulse becoming faster as the fluence increases. The latter is interpreted, through comparison with simulation, as a side-effect of the degradation in light transmission. In conclusion, the experimental results obtained can be used to estimate the long term performance of the CMS ECAL.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Double side read-out technique for mitigation of radiation damage effects in PbWO 4 crystals

Test beam results of a calorimetric module based on 3×3×22 cm 3 PbWO 4 crystals, identical to those used in the CMS ECAL Endcaps, read out by a pair of photodetectors coupled to the two opposite sides (front and rear) of each crystal are presented. Nine crystals with different level of induced absorption, from 0 to 20 m -1 , have been tested using electrons in the 50–200 GeV energy range. Photomultiplier tubes have been chosen as photodetectors to allow for a precise measurement of highly damaged crystals. The information provided by this double side read-out configuration allows to correct for event-by-event fluctuations of the longitudinal development of electromagnetic showers. By strongly mitigating the effect of non-uniform light collection efficiency induced by radiation damage, the double side read-out technique significantly improves the energy resolution with respect to a single side read-out configuration. The non-linearity of the response arising in damaged crystals is also corrected by a double side read-out configuration and the response linearity of irradiated crystals is restored. In high radiation environments at future colliders, as it will be the case for detectors operating during the High Luminosity phase of the Large Hadron Collider, defects can be created inside the scintillator volume leading to a non-uniform response of the calorimetric cell. As a result, the double side read-out technique presented in this study provides a valuable way to improve the performance of calorimeters based on scintillators whose active volumes are characterized by high aspect ratio cells similar to those used in this study.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Suppression of the valence transition in solution-grown single crystals of Eu 2 Pt 6 Al 15

Here, the study of Eu intermetallic compounds has allowed the exploration of valence fluctuations and transitions in 4⁢𝑓 electron systems. Recently, a Eu 2 ⁢Pt 6 ⁢Al 15 phase synthesized by arc-melting followed by a thermal treatment was reported M. Radzieowski et al. [J. Am. Chem. Soc. 140, 8950 (2018)], which undergoes a transition upon cooling below 45 K that was interpreted as a valence transition from Eu 2+ to Eu 3+ . In this paper, we present the discovery of another polymorph of Eu 2 ⁢Pt 6 ⁢Al 15 obtained by high temperature solution growth, which presents different physical properties than the arc-melted polycrystalline sample. Despite the similarities in crystal structure and chemical composition, the Eu valence transition is almost fully suppressed in the solution-grown crystals, allowing the moments associated with the Eu 2+ state to order antiferromagnetically at around 14 K. A detailed analysis of the crystal structure using single crystal x-ray diffraction reveals that, although the solution grown crystals are built from the same constituent layers as the arc-melted samples, these layers present a different stacking. The effect of different thermal treatments is also studied. Different anneal procedures did not result in significant changes in the intrinsic properties, and only by arc-melting and quenching the crystals we were able to convert them into the previously reported polymorph.

Schmidt, Juan [Ames Laboratory, and Iowa State Uni↗

Single-Crystal Permanent Magnets: Extraordinary Magnetic Behavior in the Ta-,Cu-, and Fe-Substituted CeCo 5 Systems

To reduce material and processing costs of commercial permanent magnets and to attempt to fill the empty niche of energy products, 10–20 MGOe, between low-flux (ferrites, alnico) and high-flux (Nd 2 Fe 14 B- and SmCo 5 -type) magnets, we report the synthesis, structure, magnetic properties, and modeling of Ta-, Cu-, and Fe-substituted CeCo 5 . Using a self-flux technique, we grow single crystals of Ce 15.1 Ta 1.0 Co 74.4 Cu 9.5 , Ce 16.3 Ta 0.6 Co 68.9 Cu 14.2 , Ce 15.7 Ta 0.6 Co 67.8 Cu 15.9 , Ce 16.3 Ta 0.3 Co 61.7 Cu 21.7 , and Ce 14.3 Ta 1.0 Co 62.0 Fe 12.3 Cu 10.4 . X-ray-diffraction analysis shows that these materials retain a CaCu 5 substructure and incorporate small amounts of Ta in the form of “dumbbells,” filling the 2e crystallographic sites within the one-dimensional hexagonal channel with the 1a Ce site, whereas Co, Cu, and Fe are statistically distributed among the 2c and 3g crystallographic sites. Scanning-electron-microscopy, energy-dispersive-x-ray-spectroscopy, and scanning-transmission-electron-microscopy examinations provide strong evidence of the single-phase nature of the as-grown crystals, even though they readily exhibit significant magnetic coercivities of approximately 1.6 kOe to approximately 1.8 kOe caused by Co-enriched, nanosized structural defects and faults that can serve as pinning sites. Heat treatments at 1040°C for 10 h and hardening at 400°C for 4 h lead to the formation of a so-called composite crystal with a bimodal microstructure that consists of a Ta-poor matrix and Ta-rich laminal precipitates. Formation of the composite crystal during the heat treatment creates a three-dimensional array of extended defects within a primarily single-grain single crystal, which greatly improves its magnetic characteristics. Possible causes for the formation of the composite crystal may be associated with Ta atoms leaving matrix interstices at lower temperatures and/or matrix degradation induced by decreased miscibility at lower temperatures. Furthermore Fe strongly increases both the Curie temperature and magnetization of the system resulting, in ( BH ) max ≈ 13 MGOe at room temperature.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Non-Fermi-liquid types of behavior associated with a magnetic quantum critical point in Sr ( Co 1 - x Ni x ) 2 As 2 single crystals

The compound SrCo 2 As 2 with the body-centered tetragonal ThCr 2 Si 2 structure is known to remain paramagnetic down to a temperature T = 0.05 K, but inelastic neutron scattering studies have shown that both ferromagnetic (FM) and antiferromagnetic (AFM) fluctuations occur in single crystals. Thus it is of interest to study how the magnetism evolves on doping SrCo 2 As 2 . Previous work on polycrystalline samples of Sr (Co 1-x Ni x ) 2 As 2 indicated the development of AFM order for 0 < x ≲ 0.3. Here we studied single crystals of Sr(Co 1-x Ni x ) 2 As 2 for 0 < x ≤ 1 and confirmed the occurrence of AFM order which we deduce to have a c -axis helix structure. We also find evidence for an unusual composition-induced magnetic quantum critical point at x ≈ 0.3 where non-Fermi-liquid types of behavior were revealed by heat capacity and electrical resisitivity measurements at low T. Electron-doped Sr (Co 1-x Ni x ) 2 As 2 single crystals with compositions x = 0 to 0.9 were grown out of self-flux and SrNi 2 As 2 single crystals out of Bi flux. The crystals were characterized using single-crystal x-ray diffraction (XRD) at room temperature, and magnetic susceptibility χ (H, T), isothermal magnetization M (H, T), heat capacity Cp (H, T), and electrical resistivity ρ (H, T) measurements versus applied magnetic field H and T. The XRD studies show that the system undergoes a continuous structural crossover from the uncollapsed-tetragonal (ucT) structure to the collapsed tetragonal (cT) structure with increasing Ni doping. The χ(T) data show that SrCo 2 As 2 exhibits an AFM ground state almost immediately upon Ni doping on the Co site. Ab initio electronic-structure calculations for x = 0 and 0.15 indicate that a flat band with a peak in the density of states just above the Fermi energy is responsible for this initial magnetic-ordering behavior on Ni doping. The AFM ordering is observed in the range 0.013 ≤ x ≤ 0.25 with the ordered moments aligned in the ab plane and with a maximum ordering temperature T N = 26.5 K at x = 0.10. The Curie-Weiss-like T dependence of χ in the paramagnetic (PM) state indicates dominant FM interactions. The behavior of the anisotropic susceptibilities below T N suggests a planar helical magnetic ground state with a composition-dependent pitch based on a local-moment molecular-field-theory model, with FM interactions in the ab plane and weaker AFM interactions along the helix c axis. However, the small ordered (saturation) moments ~0.1 μ B per transition metal atom, where μ B is the Bohr magneton, and the values of the Rhodes-Wohlfarth ratio indicate that the magnetism is itinerant. The high-field M (H) isotherms and the low-field χ-1 ( T > T N ) data were successfully analyzed within the framework of Takahashi's theory of FM spin fluctuations. The C p (T) at low T exhibits Fermi-liquid behavior for 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.15 , whereas an evolution to a logarithmic non-Fermi-liquid (NFL) behavior is found for x = 0.2 to 0.3. The logarithmic dependence is suppressed in an applied magnetic field. The low- T ρ ( H = 0 , T ) data show a T 2 dependence for 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.20 and a power-law dependence ρ (H = 0, T) = ρ 0 + AT n with n < 2 for x = 0.20 and 0.30. The exponent n shows a notable field dependence, suggesting both doping- and magnetic-field-tuned quantum critical phenomena. These low- T NFL types of behavior observed in the C p and ρ measurements are most evident near the quantum critical concentration x ≈ 0.3 at which a T = 0 composition-induced transition from the AFM phase to the PM phase occurs.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Suppression of antiferromagnetic order and strong ferromagnetic spin fluctuations in Ca(Co 1-x Ni x ) 2-y As 2 single crystals

CaCo 2–y As 2 is a unique itinerant system having strong magnetic frustration. Here, we report the effect of electron doping on the physical properties resulting from Ni substitutions for Co. The single crystals of Ca(Co 1–x Ni x ) 2–y As 2 were characterized by single-crystal x-ray diffraction, energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, magnetization M versus temperature T, magnetic field H, time t, and heat capacity C p (H, T) measurements. The A-type antiferromagnetic (AFM) transition temperature T N = 52 K for x = 0 decreases to 22 K with only 3% Ni substitution and is completely suppressed for x > 0.16. For 0.11 ≤ x ≤ 0.52 strong ferromagnetic (FM) fluctuations develop as revealed by magnetic susceptibility χ(T) = M(T) / H measurements. For x = 0.11 and 0.16 competing AFM and FM interactions result in a reentrant spin-glass behavior below T N , as evidenced by the observations of thermomagnetic hysteresis and magnetic relaxation. Enhanced FM fluctuations are also found for the x = 0.21 and 0.31 crystals, where χ c increases significantly at low T. A large χ anisotropy in these compositions where χ c is up to a factor of two larger than χ ab suggests that the FM spin fluctuations are quasi-1D in nature. Weak ferromagnetic contributions to the magnetization are found at T = 2 K for x = 0.11 –0.31. Heat-capacity Cp(T) measurements reveal the presence of FM quantum spin fluctuations for 0.11 ≤ x ≤ 0.52, where a logarithmic T dependence of Cp(T) / T is observed at low T. Here, the suppression of AFM order by the development of strong FM fluctuations in Ca(Co 1–x Ni x ) 2–y As 2 crystals suggests the presence of a FM quantum-critical point at x ≈ 0.20. Our density-functional theory (DFT) calculations confirm that FM fluctuations are enhanced by Ni substitutions for Co in CaCo 2–y As 2 . The Sommerfeld electronic heat-capacity coefficient is enhanced for x = 0, 0.21, and 0.42 by about a factor of two compared to DFT calculations of the density of states (DOS) at the Fermi energy, suggesting an enhancement of the DOS from electron-phonon and/or electron-electron interactions. The crystals with x > 0.52 do not exhibit FM spin fluctuations or magnetic order at T ≥ 1.8 K, which was found from the DFT calculations to arise from a Stoner transition. Superconductivity is not observed above 1.8 K for any of the compositions. Neutron-diffraction studies of crystals with x = 0.11 and 0.16 in the crossover regime (0.1 ≲ x ≲ 0.2) show no evidence of A-type ordering as observed in the parent compound with x = 0. Furthermore, no other common magnetic structures, such as ferromagnetic (FM), helical stacking of in-plane FM layers, or in-plane AFM structure, are found with an ordered moment greater than the uncertainty of 0.05 μ B per transition-metal atom.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Low-temperature crystal and magnetic structure of α – RuCl 3

Here, single crystals of the Kitaev spin-liquid candidate α – RuCl 3 have been studied to determine the low-temperature bulk properties, the structure, and the magnetic ground state. Refinements of x-ray diffraction data show that the low-temperature crystal structure is described by space group C2/m with a nearly perfect honeycomb lattice exhibiting less than 0.2% in-plane distortion. The as-grown single crystals exhibit only one sharp magnetic transition at T N = 7 K. The magnetic order below this temperature exhibits a propagation vector of k=(0,1,1/3), which coincides with a three-layer stacking of the C2/m unit cells. Magnetic transitions at higher temperatures up to 14 K can be introduced by deformations of the crystal that result in regions in the crystal with a two-layer stacking sequence. The best-fit symmetry-allowed magnetic structure of the as-grown crystals shows that the spins lie in the ac plane, with a zigzag configuration in each honeycomb layer. The three-layer repeat out-of-plane structure can be refined as a 120° spiral order or a collinear structure with a spin direction of 35° away from the a axis. The collinear spin configuration yields a slightly better fit and also is physically preferred. The average ordered moment in either structure is less than 0.45(5) μB per Ru 3+ ion.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗