Effect of the valence state on the band magnetocrystalline anisotropy in two-dimensional rare-earth/noble-metal compounds

[EN] In intermetallic compounds with zero orbital momentum (L = 0) the magnetic anisotropy and the electronic band structure are interconnected. Here, we investigate this connection in divalent Eu and trivalent Gd intermetallic compounds. We find by x-ray magnetic circular dichroism an out-of-plane easy magnetization axis in two-dimensional atom-thick EuAu2. Angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy and density-functional theory prove that this is due to strong f-d band hybridization and Eu2+ valence. In contrast, the easy in-plane magnetization of the structurally equivalent GdAu2 is ruled by spin-orbit-split d bands, notably Weyl nodal lines, occupied in the Gd3+ state. Regardless of the L value, we predict a similar itinerant electron contribution to the anisotropy of analogous compounds.Discussions with the late J. I. Cerda are warmly thanked. Financial support from Spanish Ministerio deCiencia e Innovacion (projects MAT-2017-88374-P, PID2020-116093RB-C44 and PID2019-103910GB-I00 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033/) , the Basque Govern-ment (Grants No. IT-1255-19 and No. IT1260-19) , and the University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU (Grant No. GIU18/138) is acknowledged. L.F. acknowledges funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and in-novation programme through the Marie Skodowska-Curie Grant Agreement MagicFACE No. 797109. We acknowl-edge SOLEIL for provision of synchrotron radiation facilities at CASSIOPEE beamline under proposal 20181362. The XMCD experiments were performed at BOREAS beamline at ALBA Synchrotron with the collaboration of ALBA staff. Computational resources were provided by DIPC

A ferromagnetic Eu–Pt surface compound grown below hexagonal boron nitride

One of the fundamental applications for monolayer-thick 2D materials is their use as protective layers of metal surfaces and in situ intercalated reactive materials in ambient conditions. Here we investigate the structural, electronic, and magnetic properties, as well as the chemical stability in air of a very reactive metal, Europium, after intercalation between a hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) layer and a Pt substrate. We demonstrate that Eu intercalation leads to a hBN-covered ferromagnetic EuPt2 surface alloy with divalent Eu2+ atoms at the interface. We expose the system to ambient conditions and find a partial conservation of the di-valent signal and hence the Eu–Pt interface. The use of a curved Pt substrate allows us to explore the changes in the Eu valence state and the ambient pressure protection at different substrate planes. The interfacial EuPt2 surface alloy formation remains the same, but the resistance of the protecting hBN layer to ambient conditions is reduced, likely due to a rougher surface and a more discontinuous hBN coating

Room-temperature C–C σ-bond activation of biphenylene derivatives on Cu(111)

Activating the strong C–C σ-bond is a central problem in organic synthesis. Directly generating activated C centers by metalation of structures containing strained four-membered rings is one maneuver often employed in multistep syntheses. This usually requires high temperatures and/or precious transition metals. In this paper, we report an unprecedented C–C σ-bond activation at room temperature on Cu(111). By using bond-resolving scanning probe microscopy, we show the breaking of one of the C–C σ-bonds of a biphenylene derivative, followed by insertion of Cu from the substrate. Chemical characterization of the generated species was complemented by X-ray photoemission spectroscopy, and their reactivity was explained by density functional theory calculations. To gain further insight into this unique reactivity on other coinage metals, the reaction pathway on Ag(111) was also investigated and the results were compared with those on Cu(111). This study offers new synthetic routes that may be employed in the in situ generation of activated species for the on-surface synthesis of novel C-based nanostructures.The authors acknowledge financial support from MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 (Grants PID2019-107338RB-C62, PID2019-107338RB-C63, PID2019-109555GB-I00, and TED2021-132388B-C43), the Basque Government (IT1591-22 and PIBA19-0004), the Spanish Research Council (ILINKC20002), the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program (Grant 863098 and Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Individual Fellowship 101022150), and the Xunta de Galicia (Centro Singular de Investigación de Galicia, 2019-2022, Grant ED431G2019/03). A.P.P. thanks the UAEU for an internal start-up grant (31S410).Peer reviewe

Circumventing the stability problems of graphene nanoribbon zigzag edges

Carbon nanostructures with zigzag edges exhibit unique properties—such as localized electronic states and spins—with exciting potential applications. Such nanostructures however are generally synthesized under vacuum because their zigzag edges are unstable under ambient conditions: a barrier that must be surmounted to achieve their scalable integration into devices for practical purposes. Here we show two chemical protection/deprotection strategies, demonstrated on labile, air-sensitive chiral graphene nanoribbons. Upon hydrogenation, the chiral graphene nanoribbons survive exposure to air, after which they are easily converted back to their original structure by annealing. We also approach the problem from another angle by synthesizing a form of the chiral graphene nanoribbons that is functionalized with ketone side groups. This oxidized form is chemically stable and can be converted to the pristine hydrocarbon form by hydrogenation and annealing. In both cases, the deprotected chiral graphene nanoribbons regain electronic properties similar to those of the pristine nanoribbons. We believe both approaches may be extended to other graphene nanoribbons and carbon-based nanostructures.Research was supported by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 (grant nos PID2019-107338RB-C62 (D.P.), PID2019-107338RB-C63 (M.C. and D.G.d.O.) and FJC2019-041202-I (F.S.)); the European Union’s Horizon 2020 programme (grant nos 863098 (D.P.) and 635919 (D.G.d.O.), and Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Individual Fellowship no. 101022150 (T.W.)); the Gobierno Vasco (grant no. PIBA_2020_1_0036 (D.G.d.O.)); the Xunta de Galicia (Centro Singular de Investigación de Galicia, 2019–2022, grant no. ED431G2019/03 (D.P.)); the European Regional Development Fund; the Praemium Academie of the Academy of Science of the Czech Republic (GACR project no. 20-13692X (P.J.)); the Czech Nanolab Research Infrastructure supported by MEYS CR (project no. LM2018110 (P.J.)); and the Operational Programme for Research, Development and Education of the European Regional Development Fund (project no. CZ.02.1.01/0.0/0.0/16_019/0000754 (P.J.)).Peer reviewe

Análisis del efecto del procesado en la estructura celular de materiales micro y nanocelulares basados en PMMA

El principal objetivo de este TFG ha consistido en analizar el efecto que el tipo de procesado, al que se ve sometido la matriz polimérica previo a la étapa de espumado, tiene sobre la estructura celular. Para ello se ha trabajado principalmente con dos grados de polimetilmetacrilato (PMMA). Estos polímeros han sido procesados empleando diferentes técnicas: extrusión y mezclado con mezclador interno. Además los parámetros de espumado se han modificado y los materiales celulares se han producido empleando dos presiones de saturación diferentes. Para poder cumplir con el objetivo establecido se han realizado diversas caracterizaciones tanto de los polímeros sólidos como de los plímeros celulares que han permitido entender los efectos observdos tras porcesar los materiales poliméricos.Grado en Físic

Structure Matters : Asymmetric CO Oxidation at Rh Steps with Different Atomic Packing

Curved crystals are a simple but powerful approach to bridge the gap between single crystal surfaces and nanoparticle catalysts, by allowing a rational assessment of the role of active step sites in gas-surface reactions. Using a curved Rh(111) crystal, here, we investigate the effect of A-type (square geometry) and B-type (triangular geometry) atomic packing of steps on the catalytic CO oxidation on Rh at millibar pressures. Imaging the crystal during reaction ignition with laser-induced CO2fluorescence demonstrates a two-step process, where B-steps ignite at lower temperature than A-steps. Such fundamental dissimilarity is explained in ambient pressure X-ray photoemission (AP-XPS) experiments, which reveal partial CO desorption and oxygen buildup only at B-steps. AP-XPS also proves that A-B step asymmetries extend to the active stage: at A-steps, low-active O-Rh-O trilayers buildup immediately after ignition, while highly active chemisorbed O is the dominant species on B-type steps. We conclude that B-steps are more efficient than A-steps for the CO oxidation