An effective spin model on the honeycomb lattice for the description of magnetic properties in two-dimensional Fe3_3GeTe2_2

Fe$_3$GeTe$_2$ attracts significant attention due to technological perspectives of realizing room temperature ferromagnetism in two-dimensional materials. Here we show that due to structural peculiarities of the Fe$_3$GeTe$_2$ monolayer, short distance between the neighboring iron atoms induces a strong exchange coupling. This strong coupling allows us to consider them as an effective cluster with a magnetic moment $\sim$5 $\mu_B$, giving rise to a simplified spin model on a bipartite honeycomb lattice with the reduced number of long-range interactions. The simplified model perfectly reproduces the results of the conventional spin model, but allows for a more tractable description of the magnetic properties of Fe$_3$GeTe$_2$, which is important, e.g., for large-scale simulations. Also, we discuss the role of biaxial strain in the stabilization of ferromagnetic ordering in Fe$_3$GeTe$_2$.Comment: 7 pages, 7 figure

Spontaneous and induced ferroelectricity in the BiFe1−xScxO3 perovskite ceramics

High-pressure synthesis method allows obtaining single-phase perovskite BiFe1-xScxO3 ceramics in the entire concentration range. As-prepared compositions with x from 0.30 to 0.55 have the antipolar orthorhombic Pnma structure but can be irreversible converted into the polar rhombohedral R3c or the polar orthorhombic Ima2 phase via annealing at ambient pressure. Microstructure defects and large conductivity of the high-pressure-synthesized ceramics make it difficult to study and even verify their ferroelectric properties. These obstacles can be overcome using piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM) addressing ferroelectric behavior inside single grains. Herein, the PFM study of the BiFe1-xScxO3 ceramics (0.30 ≤ x ≤ 0.50) is reported. The annealed samples show a strong PFM contrast. Switching of domain polarity by an electric field confirms the ferroelectric nature of these samples. The as-prepared BiFe0.5Sc0.5O3 ceramics demonstrate no piezoresponse in accordance with the antipolar character of the Pnma phase. However, application of a strong enough electric field induces irreversible transition to the ferroelectric state. The as-prepared BiFe0.7Sc0.3O3 ceramics show coexistence of ferroelectric and antiferroelectric grains without poling. It is assumed that mechanical stress caused by the sample polishing can be also a driving force of phase transformation in these materials alongside temperature and external electric field.publishe

Annealing-Dependent Morphotropic Phase Boundary in the BiMg0.5Ti0.5O3–BiZn0.5Ti0.5O3 Perovskite System

The annealing behavior of (1-x)BiMg0.5Ti0.5O3–xBiZn0.5Ti0.5O3 [(1-x)BMT–xBZT] perovskite solid solutions synthesized under high pressure was studied in situ via X-ray diffraction and piezoresponse force microscopy. The as prepared ceramics show a morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) between the non-polar orthorhombic and ferroelectric tetragonal states at 75 mol. % BZT. It is shown that annealing above 573 K results in irreversible changes in the phase diagram. Namely, for compositions with 0.2 < x < 0.6, the initial orthorhombic phase transforms into a ferroelectric rhombohedral phase. The new MPB between the rhombohedral and tetragonal phases lies at a lower BZT content of 60 mol. %. The phase diagram of the BMT–BZT annealed ceramics is formally analogous to that of the commercial piezoelectric material lead zirconate titanate. This makes the BMT–BZT system promising for the development of environmentally friendly piezoelectric ceramicspublishe

Magnetic behaviour of perovskite compositions derived from BiFeO3

The phase content and sequence, the crystal structure, and the magnetic properties of perovskite solid solutions of the (1−y)BiFeO3–yBiZn0.5Ti0.5O3 series (0.05 ≤ y ≤ 0.90) synthesized under high pressure have been studied. Two perovskite phases, namely the rhombohedral R3c and the tetragonal P4mm, which correspond to the structural types of the end members, BiFeO3 and BiZn0.5Ti0.5O3, respectively, were revealed in the as-synthesized samples. The rhombohedral and the tetragonal phases were found to coexist in the compositional range of 0.30 ≤ y ≤ 0.90. Magnetic properties of the BiFe1−y [Zn0.5Ti0.5]yO3 ceramics with y < 0.30 were measured as a function of temperature. The obtained compositional variations of the normalized unit-cell volume and the Néel temperature of the BiFe1−y [Zn0.5Ti0.5]yO3 perovskites in the range of their rhombohedral phase were compared with the respective dependences for the BiFe1−yB 3+yO3 perovskites (where B 3+ = Ga, Co, Mn, Cr, and Sc). The role of the high-pressure synthesis in the formation of the antiferromagnetic states different from the modulated cycloidal one characteristic of the parent BiFeO3 is discussed.publishe

The ACTN3 R577X Polymorphism across Three Groups of Elite Male European Athletes

The ACTN3 R577X polymorphism (rs1815739) is a strong candidate to influence elite athletic performance. Yet, controversy exists in the literature owing to between-studies differences in the ethnic background and sample size of the cohorts, the latter being usually low, which makes comparisons difficult. In this case:control genetic study we determined the association between elite athletic status and the ACTN3 R577X polymorphism within three cohorts of European Caucasian men, i.e. Spanish, Polish and Russian [633 cases (278 elite endurance and 355 power athletes), and 808 non-athletic controls]. The odds ratio (OR) of a power athlete harbouring the XX versus the RR genotype compared with sedentary controls was 0.54 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.34–0.48; P = 0.006]. We also observed that the OR of an endurance athlete having the XX versus the RR genotype compared with power athletes was 1.88 (95%CI: 1.07–3.31; P = 0.028). In endurance athletes, the OR of a “world-class” competitor having the XX genotype versus the RR+RX genotype was 3.74 (95%CI: 1.08–12.94; P = 0.038) compared with those of a lower (“national”) competition level. No association (P>0.1) was noted between the ACTN3 R577X polymorphism and competition level (world-class versus national-level) in power athletes. Our data provide comprehensive support for the influence of the ACTN3 R577X polymorphism on elite athletic performance

Antisymmetric exchange in La-substituted BiFe0.5Sc0.5O3 system: symmetry adapted distortion modes approach

Neutron powder diffraction measurements on the 35 % La-substituted Bi1-xLaxFe0.5Sc0.5O3-composition revealed that the samples obtained under high-pressure (6 GPa) and high-temperature (1500 K) conditions crystalize into a distorted perovskite structure with the orthorhombic Pnma symmetry and the unit cell para-meters: a(0) = 5.6745(2) angstrom, b(0) = 7.9834(3) angstrom and c(0) = 5.6310(2) angstrom. A long-range magnetic ordering takes place below 220 K and implies a G-type magnetic structure with the moments 4.10(4)mu(B) per Fe aligned predominately along the orthorhombic c-axis. The space group representation theory using the orthorhombic symmetry yields four bi-linear coupling schemes for the magnetic order parameters imposed by antisymmetric exchange interactions. The couplings are analysed based on symmetry adapted distortion modes defined in respect of the undistorted cubic perovskite structure. The approach allows a quantitative estimation of the coupling strength. It is shown that the experimentally found spin configuration combines the magnetic order parameters coupled by the atomic displacement modes with the largest amplitudes. The results indicate that the antisymmetric exchange is the dominant anisotropic term which fully controls the direction of the Fe3+ spins in the distorted perovskite lattice

Evidence for CO Disproportionation over Ceria during Oxygen Storage Capacity Measurements: an in Situ Raman Spectroscopic Investigation

The interaction of CO with ceria under conditions typical for oxygen storage capacity (OSC) measurements of three way catalysts (TWC) has been investigated by in situ Raman spectroscopy. It has been shown that CO disproportionates over ceria at 623 K to deposit disordered carbon nano-crystallites, with calculated average crystal size of less than 20 Å. Exposure of the carbonized ceria to gaseous O2 at room temperature resulted in the disappearance of the bands attributed to the carbon in Raman spectra, accompanied by the emerging of bands of surface formates, carbonates, and adsorbed peroxide species. Even though the kinetics of the ceria-catalyzed CO disproportionation reaction has yet to be measured, the present investigation suggests that the generally accepted procedure for OSC measurements of TWCs results in an OSC overestimation and, hence, needs to be reconsidered

Evidence for CO Disproportionation over Ceria during Oxygen Storage Capacity Measurements: an in Situ Raman Spectroscopic Investigation

The interaction of CO with ceria under conditions typical for oxygen storage capacity (OSC) measurements of three way catalysts (TWC) has been investigated by in situ Raman spectroscopy. It has been shown that CO disproportionates over ceria at 623 K to deposit disordered carbon nano-crystallites, with calculated average crystal size of less than 20 Å. Exposure of the carbonized ceria to gaseous O2 at room temperature resulted in the disappearance of the bands attributed to the carbon in Raman spectra, accompanied by the emerging of bands of surface formates, carbonates, and adsorbed peroxide species. Even though the kinetics of the ceria-catalyzed CO disproportionation reaction has yet to be measured, the present investigation suggests that the generally accepted procedure for OSC measurements of TWCs results in an OSC overestimation and, hence, needs to be reconsidered