Biquadratic exchange interactions in two-dimensional magnets

Magnetism in recently discovered van der Waals materials has opened several avenues in the study of fundamental spin interactions in truly two-dimensions. A paramount question is what effect higher-order interactions beyond bilinear Heisenberg exchange have on the magnetic properties of few-atom thick compounds. Here we demonstrate that biquadratic exchange interactions, which is the simplest and most natural form of non-Heisenberg coupling, assume a key role in the magnetic properties of layered magnets. Using a combination of nonperturbative analytical techniques, non-collinear first-principles methods and classical Monte Carlo calculations that incorporate higher-order exchange, we show that several quantities including magnetic anisotropies, spin-wave gaps and topological spin-excitations are intrinsically renormalized leading to further thermal stability of the layers. We develop a spin Hamiltonian that also contains antisymmetric exchanges (e.g., Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interactions) to successfully rationalize numerous observations, such as the non-Ising character of several compounds despite a strong magnetic anisotropy, peculiarities of the magnon spectrum of 2D magnets, and the discrepancy between measured and calculated Curie temperatures. Our results provide a theoretical framework for the exploration of different physical phenomena in 2D magnets where biquadratic exchange interactions have an important contribution

Efficient Blue Electroluminescence Using Quantum-Confined Two-Dimensional Perovskites

Solution-processed hybrid organic–inorganic lead halide perovskites are emerging as one of the most promising candidates for low-cost light-emitting diodes (LEDs). However, due to a small exciton binding energy, it is not yet possible to achieve an efficient electroluminescence within the blue wavelength region at room temperature, as is necessary for full-spectrum light sources. Here, we demonstrate efficient blue LEDs based on the colloidal, quantum-confined 2D perovskites, with precisely controlled stacking down to one-unit-cell thickness (<i>n</i> = 1). A variety of low-<i>k</i> organic host compounds are used to disperse the 2D perovskites, effectively creating a matrix of the dielectric quantum wells, which significantly boosts the exciton binding energy by the dielectric confinement effect. Through the Förster resonance energy transfer, the excitons down-convert and recombine radiatively in the 2D perovskites. We report room-temperature pure green (<i>n</i> = 7–10), sky blue (<i>n</i> = 5), pure blue (<i>n</i> = 3), and deep blue (<i>n</i> = 1) electroluminescence, with record-high external quantum efficiencies in the green-to-blue wavelength region

Mechanical properties of atomically thin boron nitride and the role of interlayer interactions

Atomically thin boron nitride (BN) nanosheets are important two-dimensional nanomaterials with many unique properties distinct from those of graphene, but investigation into their mechanical properties remains incomplete. Here we report that high-quality single-crystalline mono-and few-layer BN nanosheets are one of the strongest electrically insulating materials. More intriguingly, few-layer BN shows mechanical behaviours quite different from those of few-layer graphene under indentation. In striking contrast to graphene, whose strength decreases by more than 30% when the number of layers increases from 1 to 8, the mechanical strength of BN nanosheets is not sensitive to increasing thickness. We attribute this difference to the distinct interlayer interactions and hence sliding tendencies in these two materials under indentation. The significantly better interlayer integrity of BN nanosheets makes them a more attractive candidate than graphene for several applications, for example, as mechanical reinforcements

A Chirality-Based Quantum Leap

There is increasing interest in the study of chiral degrees of freedom occurring in matter and in electromagnetic fields. Opportunities in quantum sciences will likely exploit two main areas that are the focus of this Review: (1) recent observations of the chiral-induced spin selectivity (CISS) effect in chiral molecules and engineered nanomaterials and (2) rapidly evolving nanophotonic strategies designed to amplify chiral light-matter interactions. On the one hand, the CISS effect underpins the observation that charge transport through nanoscopic chiral structures favors a particular electronic spin orientation, resulting in large room-temperature spin polarizations. Observations of the CISS effect suggest opportunities for spin control and for the design and fabrication of room-temperature quantum devices from the bottom up, with atomic-scale precision and molecular modularity. On the other hand, chiral-optical effects that depend on both spin- and orbital-angular momentum of photons could offer key advantages in all-optical and quantum information technologies. In particular, amplification of these chiral light-matter interactions using rationally designed plasmonic and dielectric nanomaterials provide approaches to manipulate light intensity, polarization, and phase in confined nanoscale geometries. Any technology that relies on optimal charge transport, or optical control and readout, including quantum devices for logic, sensing, and storage, may benefit from chiral quantum properties. These properties can be theoretically and experimentally investigated from a quantum information perspective, which has not yet been fully developed. There are uncharted implications for the quantum sciences once chiral couplings can be engineered to control the storage, transduction, and manipulation of quantum information. This forward-looking Review provides a survey of the experimental and theoretical fundamentals of chiral-influenced quantum effects and presents a vision for their possible future roles in enabling room-temperature quantum technologies.ISSN:1936-0851ISSN:1936-086

Primeiro levantamento de mosca das frutas (Diptera: Tephritidae) e diversidade de parasitoides entre frutos de myrtaceae em todo o Estado da Bahia, Brasil

The objective of this study was to evaluate the diversity of fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) species that use myrtaceous fruit, particularly guava, as hosts in several localities in the state of Bahia and to determine the infestation rates, pupal viability rates, and fruit fly-parasitoid associations. Sampling of myrtaceous fruit was carried out in 24 municipalities in different regions in the state of Bahia. Four fruit fly species, Anastrepha fraterculus, Anastrepha zenildae, Anastrepha sororcula, and Ceratitis capitata were obtained from the collected fruit. Three parasitoid species (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) emerged from Anastrepha larvae/pupae, Doryctobracon areolatus, Utetes anastrephae, and Asobara anastrephae. Doryctobracon areolatus emerged from A. fraterculus, A. sororcula and A. zenildae; Utetes anastrephae emerged from A. fraterculus and A. zenildae; and Asobara anastrephae emerged from A. fraterculus. Fruit fly and myrtaceous fruit associations are reported for the first time in several municipalities in the state of Bahia. A. zenildae was found infesting Syzygium malaccense for the first time in Brazil

Multistep magnetization switching in orthogonally twisted ferromagnetic monolayers

The authors present magnetotransport measurements to demonstrate multistep magnetization switching in orthogonally twisted CrSBr ferromagnetic monolayers.QN/vanderSarlabQN/van der Zant La

Intrinsic Controllable Magnetism of Graphene Grown on Fe

Intrinsic Controllable Magnetism of Graphene Grown on F

Length- And Thickness-Dependent Optical Response of Liquid-Exfoliated Transition Metal Dichalcogenides

Because of their reduced dimensionality, two-dimensional materials show intriguing optical properties and strong light-matter interaction. In particular, group VI transition metal dichalcogenides have been extensively studied and proof-of-principle optical applications have been demonstrated. Most studies to date focus on individual mono- or bilayered micromechanically exfoliated samples, which often display significant variations between flakes. In this work, we study size-dependent optical properties of four group VI TMD materials: WS2, MoS2, WSe2, and MoSe2, each consisting of ensembles of nanosheets suspended in the liquid environment. Samples were produced by liquid-phase exfoliation and size-selected using cascade centrifugation with size and layer number distributions quantified by statistical atomic force microscopy. Differences in lateral size and layer number are reflected in systematic changes in the optical extinction and absorbance spectra, which we exploit to establish quantitative spectroscopic metrics to facilitate the measurement of nanosheet dimensions for each of the four materials. The lowest energy resonance, referred to as A-exciton, is analyzed in more detail. In all cases, an exponential red shift with increasing layer number is observed. Our experimental data, backed up with first-principle calculations, reveal that the magnitude of the shift is dependent on the molecular mass of the central metal atom (W, Mo), while the rate at which the peak shifts from monolayer to bulk depends on the band gap of the semiconductor

Design and Synthesis of Heteroleptic Iridium(III) Phosphors for Efficient Organic Light-Emitting Devices

The phosphorescent emitters are essential to realize energy-efficient display and lighting panels. The solution processability is of particular interest for large-scale and low-cost production. Here, we present a series of the heteroleptic iridium (Ir) complexes, Ir­(ppy)₂L1, Ir­(ppy)₂L2, and Ir­(ppy)₂L3, using the new ancillary ligands, including 1-(2-chlorophenyl)-5-hydroxy-3-methyl-1<i>H</i>-pyrazole-4-carbaldehyde (L1), 5-hydroxy-3-methyl-1-(p-tolyl)-1<i>H</i>-pyrazole-4-carbaldehyde (L2), and 5-hydroxy-3-methyl-1-phenyl-1<i>H</i>-pyrazole-4-carbaldehyde (L3). Their photophysical and electrochemical properties were systematically characterized, followed by comparing with those predicted by density functional theory simulations using hybrid functionals. Among the three phosphors synthesized, Ir­(ppy)₂L1 exhibits the highest photoluminescence quantum yield (Φ_PL = 89%), with an exciton lifetime of 0.34 μs. By using 4,4′-bis­(carbazole-9-yl)­biphenyl as the host material, we demonstrate high current efficiencies of 64 and 40 cd A^–1 at 100 cd m^–2 in its vacuum-evaporated and solution-processed organic light-emitting devices, respectively, revealing the promise for large-area light sources

Quantum Rescaling, Domain Metastability, and Hybrid Domain-Walls in 2D CrI3 Magnets

Higher-order exchange interactions and quantum effects are widely known to play an important role in describing the properties of low-dimensional magnetic compounds. Here, the recently discovered 2D van der Waals (vdW) CrI3 is identified as a quantum non-Heisenberg material with properties far beyond an Ising magnet as initially assumed. It is found that biquadratic exchange interactions are essential to quantitatively describe the magnetism of CrI3 but quantum rescaling corrections are required to reproduce its thermal properties. The quantum nature of the heat bath represented by discrete electron–spin and phonon–spin scattering processes induces the formation of spin fluctuations in the low-temperature regime. These fluctuations induce the formation of metastable magnetic domains evolving into a single macroscopic magnetization or even a monodomain over surface areas of a few micrometers. Such domains display hybrid characteristics of Néel and Bloch types with a narrow domain wall width in the range of 3–5 nm. Similar behavior is expected for the majority of 2D vdW magnets where higher-order exchange interactions are appreciable