Magnetic field dependence of the density of states in the multiband superconductor β\beta-Bi2_2Pd

We present very low temperature scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) experiments on single crystalline samples of the superconductor $\beta$-Bi$_2$Pd. We find a single fully isotropic superconducting gap. However, the magnetic field dependence of the intervortex density of states is higher than the one expected in a single gap superconductor, and the hexagonal vortex lattice is locked to the square atomic lattice. Such increase in the intervortex density of states and vortex lattice locking have been found in superconductors with multiple superconducting gaps and anisotropic Fermi surfaces. We compare the upper critical field $H_{c2}(T)$ obtained in our sample with previous measurements and explain available data within multiband supercondutivity. We propose that $\beta$-Bi$_2$Pd is a single gap multiband superconductor. We anticipate that single gap multiband superconductivity can occur in other compounds with complex Fermi surfaces.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figure

Single-molecule kinetic energy of condensed normal deuterium

8 págs.; 9 figs.; 1 tab.Inelastic scattering of 300-meV neutrons allows the study of the liquid (T=20 and 30 K, saturated vapor pressure) and solid (T=4.2 K, saturated vapor pressure) phases of the normal deuterium mixture (2/3 o-D2+1/3 p -D2) in the region of momentum transfer where a single-molecule response is expected. The spectra are analyzed within the impulse approximation and assuming Gaussian momentum distributions for the translation of the molecules. For the solid, the estimated value of the single-molecule average kinetic energy does not compare unfavorably with those obtained scaling experimental results in parahydrogen solids. In the liquid state, substantial departures seem to exist from the classical liquid behavior, even if up to second-order quantum corrections are taken into account. ©1996 American Physical SocietyThis research has been made possible in part by the Spanish DGICYT through Grant No. PB92-0015.Peer Reviewe

Influencia de la segregación de Ti4+ en la respuesta multiferroica de materiales basados en BiFeO3

Los materiales multiferroicos han cobrado un interés creciente en los últimos años dada la potencialidad de sus aplicaciones prácticas. Los materiales basados en BiFeO3 pueden considerarse los más estudiados hasta la fecha dentro de los pocos multiferroicos conocidos. No obstante, sus propiedades aún no son adecuadas para su empleo en dispositivos pues suelen presentar una elevada conductividad eléctrica y/o una respuesta antiferromagnética. La modificación de estos materiales mediante dopado con Ti4+ puede disminuir las pérdidas dieléctricas y proporcionar un comportamiento ferromagnético. Sin embargo, los cambios producidos en la estructura, microestructura y propiedades de los materiales de BiFeO3 como consecuencia del dopado con Titanio no están claros. En este trabajo se presenta una caracterización detallada de cerámicas de composición nominal BiFe0.95Ti0.05O3 con una elevada resistencia y una respuesta magnética extraordinaria. Los resultados evidencian la formación de una nanoestructura relacionada con la segregación del dopante en borde de grano que es la responsable de los cambios producidos en las propiedades magnetoeléctricas de estos materiales

Magnetic phase diagram, magnetotransport and inverse magnetocaloric effect in the noncollinear antiferromagnet Mn5Si3

This Accepted Manuscript will be available for reuse under a CC BY-NC-ND licence after 24 months of embargo periodThe antiferromagnet Mn5Si3 has recently attracted attention because a noncollinear spin arrangement has been shown to produce a topological anomalous Hall effect and an inverse magnetocaloric effect. Here we synthesize single crystals of Mn5Si3 using flux growth. We determine the phase diagram through magnetization and measure the magnetoresistance and the Hall effect. We find the collinear and noncollinear antiferromagnetic phases at low temperatures and, in addition, a third magnetic phase, in between the two antiferromagnetic phases. The latter magnetic phase might be caused by strain produced by Cu inclusions. This suggests that fluctuations of the mixed character magnetic ordering in this compound can be easily quenched by stressThis work was supported by the Spanish MINECO (Consolider Ingenio Molecular Nanoscience CSD2007-00010 program, FIS2017-84330-R, MDM-2014-0377, MAT2014-52405-C2-2-R, FJCI-2015-25427 and CSD2009-00013), by the Comunidad de Madrid through program NANOMAGCOST-CM (S2018 NMT-4321) and MAD2D-CM (S2013/MIT-3007) and by EU (Graphene Core1 contract No. 696656, Nanopyme FP7-NMP-2012 SMALL-6 NMP3-SL-2012 310516 and COST CA16218

Room Temperature In-plane <100> Magnetic Easy Axis for Fe3O4/SrTiO3(001):Nb Grown by Infrared PLD

We examine the magnetic easy-axis directions of stoichiometric magnetite films grown on SrTiO3:Nb by infrared pulsed-laser deposition. Spin-polarized low-energy electron microscopy reveals that the individual magnetic domains are magnetized along the in-plane film directions. Magneto-optical Kerr effect measurements show that the maxima of the remanence and coercivity are also along in-plane film directions. This easy-axis orientation differs from bulk magnetite and films prepared by other techniques, establishing that the magnetic anisotropy can be tuned by film growth.Comment: 3 pages, 3 figure

Versatile Graphene-Based Platform for Robust Nanobiohybrid Interfaces

Technologically useful and robust graphene-based interfaces for devices require the introduction of highly selective, stable, and covalently bonded functionalities on the graphene surface, whilst essentially retaining the electronic properties of the pristine layer. This work demonstrates that highly controlled, ultrahigh vacuum covalent chemical functionalization of graphene sheets with a thiol-terminated molecule provides a robust and tunable platform for the development of hybrid nanostructures in different environments. We employ this facile strategy to covalently couple two representative systems of broad interest: metal nanoparticles, via S-metal bonds, and thiol-modified DNA aptamers, via disulfide bridges. Both systems, which have been characterized by a multi-technique approach, remain firmly anchored to the graphene surface even after several washing cycles. Atomic force microscopy images demonstrate that the conjugated aptamer retains the functionality required to recognize a target protein. This methodology opens a new route to the integration of high-quality graphene layers into diverse technological platforms, including plasmonics, optoelectronics, or biosensing. With respect to the latter, the viability of a thiol-functionalized chemical vapor deposition graphene-based solution-gated field-effect transistor array was assessed

Morphological stabilization and KPZ scaling by electrochemically induced co-deposition of nanostructured NiW alloy films

We have assessed the stabilizing role that induced co-deposition has in the growth of nanostructured NiW alloy films by electrodeposition on polished steel substrates, under pulsed galvanostatic conditions. We have compared the kinetic roughening properties of NiW films with those of Ni films deposited under the same conditions, as assessed by Atomic Force Microscopy. The surface morphologies of both systems are super-rough at short times, but differ at long times: while a cauliflower-like structure dominates for Ni, the surfaces of NiW films display a nodular morphology consistent with more stable, conformal growth, whose height fluctuations are in the Kardar-ParisiZhang universality class of rough two-dimensional interfaces. These differences are explained by the mechanisms controlling surface growth in each case: mass transport through the electrolyte (Ni) and attachment of the incoming species to the growing interface (NiW). Thus, the long-time conformal growth regime is characteristic of electrochemical induced co-deposition under current conditions in which surface kinetics is hindered due to a complex reaction mechanism. These results agree with a theoretical model of surface growth in diffusion-limited systems, in which the key parameter is the relative importance of mass transport with respect to the kinetics of the attachment reaction.We acknowledge financial support from ANPCyT (PICT 2012-1808), CONICET (PIP 0671) and Universidad Nacional de La Plata (11X760) as well as from MINECO/FEDER (Spain/UE) Grants MAT2014-54231-C4-1-P, FIS2015-66020-C2-1-P and MAT2014-52405-C2-2-R, as well as by Comunidad Autónoma de Madrid (Spain) Grant NANOAVANSENS S2013/MIT-3029. M.E.V. is member of the research career of CICPB

Morphological stabilization and KPZ scaling by electrochemically induced co-deposition of nanostructured NiW alloy films

We have assessed the stabilizing role that induced co-deposition has in the growth of nanostructured NiW alloy films by electrodeposition on polished steel substrates, under pulsed galvanostatic conditions. We have compared the kinetic roughening properties of NiW films with those of Ni films deposited under the same conditions, as assessed by Atomic Force Microscopy. The surface morphologies of both systems are super-rough at short times, but differ at long times: while a cauliflower-like structure dominates for Ni, the surfaces of NiW films display a nodular morphology consistent with more stable, conformal growth, whose height fluctuations are in the Kardar-Parisi- Zhang universality class of rough two-dimensional interfaces. These differences are explained by the mechanisms controlling surface growth in each case: mass transport through the electrolyte (Ni) and attachment of the incoming species to the growing interface (NiW). Thus, the long-time conformal growth regime is characteristic of electrochemical induced co-deposition under current conditions in which surface kinetics is hindered due to a complex reaction mechanism. These results agree with a theoretical model of surface growth in diffusion-limited systems, in which the key parameter is the relative importance of mass transport with respect to the kinetics of the attachment reaction.Facultad de Ciencias Exacta

Structural, magnetic and dielectric properties of the novel magnetic spinel compounds ZnCoSnO₄ and ZnCoTiO₄

The transparent semiconductor Zn₂SnO₄ with cubic spinel structure and the isostructural Zn₂Ti₄O have been magnetically doped with Co^(2++) ZnCoSnO₄ and ZnCoTiO₄ exhibit ferrimagnetism below TN ≈ 13 K and TN ≈ 17 K. Ferrimagnetic moments are evident in M vs H curves below TN by small hysteresis. Fits to strictly linear Curie-Weiss plots above TN give µ_(eff) ≈ to 4.86 µ(B) and a ≈ to 4.91 µB for ZnCoSnO₄ and ZnCoTiO₄, above theoretical predictions. Impedance spectroscopy data from sintered ceramic can be fitted with a standard equivalent circuit model based on two RC elements for bulk and GB areas. The relative dielectric permittivity of the bulk is ≈ 20 and ≈ to 30 for Zn₂SnO₄ and Zn₂TiO₄. The semiconducting ZnCoSn SnO₄ and ZnCoTiO₄ceramics exhibit bulk resistivity of ≈ to 1 10⁶Ω cm and ≈ to 1 10⁵ Ωcm at 560 K (287°C), and bulk activation energies of EA ≈ to 1.2 eV and 1.1 eV