Possible origin of linear magnetoresistance: Observation of Dirac surface states in layered PtBi2

The nonmagnetic compounds showing extremely large magnetoresistance are attracting a great deal of research interest due to their potential applications in the field of spintronics. PtBi2 is one of such interesting compounds showing large linear magnetoresistance (MR) in both the hexagonal and pyrite crystal structure. We use angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations to understand the mechanism of liner MR observed in the layered PtBi2. Our results uncover linear dispersive surface Dirac states at the (Gamma) over bar point, crossing the Fermi level with a node at a binding energy of approximate to 900 meV, in addition to the previously reported Dirac states at the (K) over bar point in the same compound. We further notice from our dichroic measurements that these surface states show an asymmetric spectral intensity when measured with left and right circularly polarized light, hinting at a substantial spin polarization of the bands. Following these observations, we suggest that the linear dispersive Dirac states at the (Gamma) over bar and (K) over bar points are likely to play a crucial role for the linear field dependent magnetoresistance recorded in this compound

Enhanced oxidation resistance of active nanostructures via dynamic size effect

A major challenge limiting the practical applications of nanomaterials is that the activities of nanostructures (NSs) increase with reduced size, often sacrificing their stability in the chemical environment. Under oxidative conditions, NSs with smaller sizes and higher defect densities are commonly expected to oxidize more easily, since high-concentration defects can facilitate oxidation by enhancing the reactivity with O(2) and providing a fast channel for oxygen incorporation. Here, using FeO NSs as an example, we show to the contrary, that reducing the size of active NSs can drastically increase their oxidation resistance. A maximum oxidation resistance is found for FeO NSs with dimensions below 3.2 nm. Rather than being determined by the structure or electronic properties of active sites, the enhanced oxidation resistance originates from the size-dependent structural dynamics of FeO NSs in O(2). We find this dynamic size effect to govern the chemical properties of active NSs