100 research outputs found
Micromagnetism in (001) magnetite by spin-polarized low-energy electron microscopy
Spin-polarized low-energy electron microscopy was used to image a magnetite
crystal with (100) surface orientation. Sets of spin-dependent images of
magnetic domain patterns observed in this surface were used to map the
direction of the magnetization vector with high spatial and angular resolution.
We find that domains are magnetized along the surface [110] directions, and
domain wall structures include 90{\deg} and 180{\deg} walls. A type of
unusually curved domain walls are interpreted as N\'eel-capped surface
terminations of 180{\deg} Bloch walls.Comment: 17 pages, 4 figures. Presented at the LEEM-PEEM 8 conferenc
Local deformations and incommensurability of high quality epitaxial graphene on a weakly interacting transition metal
We investigate the fine structure of graphene on iridium, which is a model
for graphene weakly interacting with a transition metal substrate. Even the
highest quality epitaxial graphene displays tiny imperfections, i.e. small
biaxial strains, ca. 0.3%, rotations, ca. 0.5^{\circ}, and shears over
distances of ca. 100 nm, and is found incommensurate, as revealed by X-ray
diffraction and scanning tunneling microscopy. These structural variations are
mostly induced by the increase of the lattice parameter mismatch when cooling
down the sample from the graphene preparation temperature to the measurement
temperature. Although graphene weakly interacts with iridium, its thermal
expansion is found positive, contrary to free-standing graphene. The structure
of graphene and its variations are very sensitive to the preparation
conditions. All these effects are consistent with initial growth and subsequent
pining of graphene at steps
A versatile fabrication method for cluster superlattices
On the graphene moire on Ir(111) a variety of highly perfect cluster
superlattices can be grown as shown is for Ir, Pt, W, and Re. Even materials
that do not form cluster superlattices upon room temperature deposition may be
grown into such by low temperature deposition or the application of cluster
seeding through Ir as shown for Au, AuIr, FeIr. Criteria for the suitability of
a material to form a superlattice are given and largely confirmed. It is proven
that at least Pt and Ir even form epitaxial cluster superlattices. The
temperature stability of the cluster superlattices is investigated and
understood on the basis of positional fluctuations of the clusters around their
sites of minimum potential energy. The binding sites of Ir, Pt, W and Re
cluster superlattices are determined and the ability to cover samples
macroscopically with a variety of superlattices is demonstrated
In situ observation of stress relaxation in epitaxial graphene
Upon cooling, branched line defects develop in epitaxial graphene grown at
high temperature on Pt(111) and Ir(111). Using atomically resolved scanning
tunneling microscopy we demonstrate that these defects are wrinkles in the
graphene layer, i.e. stripes of partially delaminated graphene. With low energy
electron microscopy (LEEM) we investigate the wrinkling phenomenon in situ.
Upon temperature cycling we observe hysteresis in the appearance and
disappearance of the wrinkles. Simultaneously with wrinkle formation a change
in bright field imaging intensity of adjacent areas and a shift in the moire
spot positions for micro diffraction of such areas takes place. The stress
relieved by wrinkle formation results from the mismatch in thermal expansion
coefficients of graphene and the substrate. A simple one-dimensional model
taking into account the energies related to strain, delamination and bending of
graphene is in qualitative agreement with our observations.Comment: Supplementary information: S1: Photo electron emission microscopy and
LEEM measurements of rotational domains, STM data of a delaminated bulge
around a dislocation. S2: Movie with increasing brightness upon wrinkle
formation as in figure 4. v2: Major revision including new experimental dat
Towards diluted magnetism in TaAs
Magnetism in Weyl semimetals is desired to investigate the interaction
between the magnetic moments and Weyl fermions, e.g. to explore anomalous
quantum Hall phenomena. Here we demonstrate that proton irradiation is an
effective tool to induce ferromagnetism in the Weyl semimetal TaAs. The
intrinsic magnetism is observed with a transition temperature above room
temperature. The magnetic moments from d states are found to be localized
around Ta atoms. Further, the first-principles calculations indicate that the d
states localized on the nearest-neighbor Ta atoms of As vacancy sites are
responsible for the observed magnetic moments and the long-ranged magnetic
order. The results show the feasibility of inducing ferromagnetism in Weyl
semimetals so that they may facilitate the applications of this material in
spintronics.Comment: 20 pages, 6 figure
Metallic 1T Phase, 3d1 Electronic Configuration and Charge Density Wave Order in Molecular Beam Epitaxy Grown Monolayer Vanadium Ditelluride.
We present a combined experimental and theoretical study of monolayer vanadium ditelluride, VTe2, grown on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite by molecular-beam epitaxy. Using various in situ microscopic and spectroscopic techniques, including scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy, synchrotron X-ray and angle-resolved photoemission, and X-ray absorption, together with theoretical analysis by density functional theory calculations, we demonstrate direct evidence of the metallic 1T phase and 3d1 electronic configuration in monolayer VTe2 that also features a (4 × 4) charge density wave order at low temperatures. In contrast to previous theoretical predictions, our element-specific characterization by X-ray magnetic circular dichroism rules out a ferromagnetic order intrinsic to the monolayer. Our findings provide essential knowledge necessary for understanding this interesting yet less explored metallic monolayer in the emerging family of van der Waals magnets
Emergent electric field control of phase transformation in oxide superlattices.
Electric fields can transform materials with respect to their structure and properties, enabling various applications ranging from batteries to spintronics. Recently electrolytic gating, which can generate large electric fields and voltage-driven ion transfer, has been identified as a powerful means to achieve electric-field-controlled phase transformations. The class of transition metal oxides provide many potential candidates that present a strong response under electrolytic gating. However, very few show a reversible structural transformation at room-temperature. Here, we report the realization of a digitally synthesized transition metal oxide that shows a reversible, electric-field-controlled transformation between distinct crystalline phases at room-temperature. In superlattices comprised of alternating one-unit-cell of SrIrO3 and La0.2Sr0.8MnO3, we find a reversible phase transformation with a 7% lattice change and dramatic modulation in chemical, electronic, magnetic and optical properties, mediated by the reversible transfer of oxygen and hydrogen ions. Strikingly, this phase transformation is absent in the constituent oxides, solid solutions and larger period superlattices. Our findings open up this class of materials for voltage-controlled functionality
Correction to Metallic 1T Phase, 3d1 Electronic Configuration and Charge Density Wave Order in Molecular-Beam Epitaxy Grown Monolayer Vanadium Ditelluride.
It has been brought to our attention that a mistake exists in the author list. The author “Johnson Goh” in the original article should be “Kuan Eng Johnson Goh”. His primary corresponding email is [email protected]
- …