The Non-Perturbative Quantum Nature of the Dislocation-Phonon Interaction

Despite the long history of dislocation-phonon interaction studies, there are many problems that have not been fully resolved during this development. These include an incompatibility between a perturbative approach and the long-range nature of a dislocation, the relation between static and dynamic scattering, and the nature of dislocation-phonon resonance. Here by introducing a fully quantized dislocation field, the "dislon"[1], a phonon is renormalized as a quasi-phonon, with shifted quasi-phonon energy, and accompanied by a finite quasi-phonon lifetime that is reducible to classical results. A series of outstanding legacy issues including those above can be directly explained within this unified phonon renormalization approach. In particular, a renormalized phonon naturally resolves the decades-long debate between dynamic and static dislocation-phonon scattering approaches.Comment: 5 pages main text, 3 figures, 10 pages supplemental material

Hedgehog Spin-vortex Crystal Antiferromagnetic Quantum Criticality in CaK(Fe1-xNix)4As4 Revealed by NMR

Two ordering states, antiferromagnetism and nematicity, have been observed in most iron-based superconductors (SCs). In contrast to those SCs, the newly discovered SC CaK(Fe$_{1-x}$Ni$_x$)$_4$As$_4$ exhibits an antiferromagnetic (AFM) state, called hedgehog spin-vortex crystal structure, without nematic order, providing the opportunity for the investigation into the relationship between spin fluctuations and SC without any effects of nematic fluctuations. Our $^{75}$As nuclear magnetic resonance studies on CaK(Fe$_{1-x}$Ni$_x$)$_4$As$_4$ (0$\le x\le$ 0.049) revealed that CaKFe$_4$As$_4$ is located close to a hidden hedgehog SVC AFM quantum-critical point (QCP). The magnetic QCP without nematicity in CaK(Fe$_{1-x}$Ni$_x$)$_4$As$_4$ highlights the close connection of spin fluctuations and superconductivity in iron-based SCs. The advantage of stoichiometric composition also makes CaKFe$_4$As$_4$ an ideal platform for further detailed investigation of the relationship between magnetic QCP and superconductivity in iron-based SCs without disorder effects.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. Let

Suppression of ferromagnetic spin fluctuations in the filled skutterudite superconductor SrOs4As12 revealed by As-75 NMR-NQR measurements

Motivated by the recent observation of ferromagnetic spin correlations in the filled skutterudite SrFe4As12 [Q.-P. Ding et al., Phys. Rev. B 98, 155149 (2018)], we have carried out As-75 nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR) measurements to investigate the role of magnetic fluctuations in the newly discovered isostructural superconductor SrOs4As12 with a superconducting transition temperature of T-c similar to 4.8 K. Knight shift K determined by the NQR spectrum under a small magnetic field (<= 0.5 T) is nearly independent of temperature, consistent with the temperature dependence of the magnetic susceptibility. The nuclear spin-lattice relaxation rate divided by temperature, 1/T1T, is nearly independent of temperature above similar to 50 K and increases slightly with decreasing temperature below the temperature. The temperature dependence is reasonably explained by a simple model where a flat band structure with a small ledge near the Fermi energy is assumed. By comparing the present NMR data with those in SrFe4As12, we found that the values of vertical bar K vertical bar and 1/T1T in SrOs4As12 are smaller than those in SrFe4As12, indicating no obvious ferromagnetic spin correlations in SrOs4As12. From the temperature dependence of 1/T-1 in the superconducting state, an s-wave superconductivity is realized

Magnetic fluctuations and superconducting properties of CaKFe4As4 studied by 75As NMR

We report $^{75}$As nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) studies on a new iron-based superconductor CaKFe$_4$As$_4$ with $T_{\rm c}$ = 35 K. $^{75}$As NMR spectra show two distinct lines corresponding to the As(1) and As(2) sites close to the K and Ca layers, respectively, revealing that K and Ca layers are well ordered without site inversions. We found that nuclear quadrupole frequencies $\nu_{\rm Q}$ of the As(1) and As(2) sites show an opposite temperature ($T$) dependence. Nearly $T$ independent behavior of the Knight shifts $K$ are observed in the normal state, and a sudden decrease in $K$ in the superconducting (SC) state clearly evidences spin-singlet Cooper pairs. $^{75}$As spin-lattice relaxation rates 1/$T_1$ show a power law $T$ dependence with different exponents for the two As sites. The isotropic antiferromagnetic spin fluctuations characterized by the wavevector ${\bf q}$ = ($\pi$, 0) or (0, $\pi$) in the single-iron Brillouin zone notation are revealed by 1/$T_1T$ and $K$ measurements. Such magnetic fluctuations are necessary to explain the observed temperature dependence of the $^{75}$As quadrupole frequencies, as evidenced by our first-principles calculations. In the SC state, 1/$T_1$ shows a rapid decrease below $T_{\rm c}$ without a Hebel-Slichter peak and decreases exponentially at low $T$, consistent with an $s^{\pm}$ nodeless two-gap superconductor.Comment: 9 pages, 6 figures, accepted for publication in Phys.Rev.

Ferrimagnetism in EuFe4As12 revealed by Eu-153 NMR and As-75 NQR measurements

Filled skutterudite compound EuFe4As12 shows the highest magnetic ordering temperature of TC=154K among Eu-based skutterudite compounds, but its magnetic ground state has not been determined yet. Here, we performed 153Eu nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and 75As nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR) measurements on EuFe4As12 to reveal its magnetic ground state as well as the physical properties from a microscopic point of view. From the temperature and magnetic field dependence of 153Eu NMR spectrum in the magnetically ordered state, we found that the Eu ions are in Eu2+ state with a nearly 7 μB corresponding to S=7/2 spins. Combined with the magnetization measurements, which show the reduced saturation moments of 4.5 μB/f.u., we determined the ground magnetic structure in EuFe4As12 to be ferrimagnetic where the Eu2+ 4f and the Fe3d ordered moments are ferromagnetically aligned in each sublattice but the moments between the sublattices are antiferromagnetically aligned. We also found the local distortion at the Eu site from the cubic symmetry in the magnetically ordered state. The relationship between the rattling motion of Eu atoms and the local symmetry of the Eu ions is discussed. From the 75As NQR nuclear spin-lattice relaxation time measurements as well as 153Eu NMR measurements, we found that the 4f electrons of the Eu ions are well described by the local moment picture in both the magnetic and paramagnetic metallic states

All-solid-state asymmetric supercapacitor based on porous cobalt selenide thin films

As a significant semiconductor material, cobalt selenide has enormous potential and extensive application prospects in the field of solar cells, photocatalysis and supercapacitor. In this paper, porous CoSe thin films were successfully fabricated on stainless-steel sheet using a facile, effective electrodeposition technique. Electrochemical tests reveal that the specific capacitance reaches as high as 510 F g−1 at the current density of 1 A g−1 with the capacitance retention of 91% over 5000 cycles. An asymmetric all-solid-state supercapacitor is fabricated using CoSe thin film as the positive electrode and activate carbon as the negative electrode. The combined solid device displays a high area specific capacitance of 18.1 mF cm−2 accompanied with good cycling stability, outstanding flexibility and satisfactory mechanical stability. Furthermore, the solid devices connected in series can power the red light-emitting diodes. The results show great potential for preparing large scale high energy density storage systems

Vertically-aligned Mn(OH)2 nanosheet films for flexible all-solid-state electrochemical supercapacitors

The arrangement of the electrode materials is a significant contributor for constructing high performance supercapacitor. Here, vertically-aligned Mn(OH)2 nanosheet thin films were synthesized by cathodic electrodeposition technique on flexible Au coated polyethylene terephthalate substrates. Morphologies, microstructures, chemical compositions and valence state of the nanosheet films were characterized systematically. It shows that the nanosheets arranged vertically to the substrate, forming a porous nanowall structures and creating large open framework, which greatly facilitate the adsorption or diffusion of electrolyte ions for faradaic redox reaction. Electrochemical tests of the films show the specific capacitance as high as 240.2 F g−1 at 1.0 A g−1. The films were employed to assemble symmetric all-solid-state supercapacitors with LiCl/PVA gel severed as solid electrolyte. The solid devices exhibit high volumetric capacitance of 39.3 mF cm−3 at the current density 0.3 mA cm−3 with robust cycling stability. The superior performance is attributed to the vertically-aligned configuration

Vertically Oriented and Interpenetrating CuSe Nanosheet Films with Open Channels for Flexible All-Solid-State Supercapacitors

As a p-type multifunctional semiconductor, CuSe nanostructures show great promise in optoelectronic, sensing, and photocatalytic fields. Although great progress has been achieved, controllable synthesis of CuSe nanosheets (NSs) with a desirable spacial orientation and open frameworks remains a challenge, and their use in supercapacitors (SCs) has not been explored. Herein, a highly vertically oriented and interpenetrating CuSe NS film with open channels is deposited on an Au-coated polyethylene terephthalate substrate. Such CuSe NS films exhibit high specific capacitance (209 F g–1) and can be used as a carbon black- and binder-free electrode to construct flexible, symmetric all-solid-state SCs, using polyvinyl alcohol–LiCl gel as the solid electrolyte. A device fabricated with such CuSe NS films exhibits high volumetric specific capacitance (30.17 mF cm–3), good cycling stability, excellent flexibility, and desirable mechanical stability. The excellent performance of such devices results from the vertically oriented and interpenetrating configuration of CuSe NS building blocks, which can increase the available surface and facilitate the diffusion of electrolyte ions. Moreover, as a prototype for application, three such solid devices in series can be used to light up a red light-emitting diode