21 research outputs found

    Induced ferroelectric phases in SrTiO3 by a nanocomposite approach

    Get PDF
    Inducing new phases in thick films via vertical lattice strain is one of the critical advantages of vertically aligned nanocomposites (VANs). In SrTiO3 (STO), the ground state is ferroelastic, and the ferroelectricity in STO is suppressed by the orthorhombic transition. Here, we explore whether vertical lattice strain in three-dimensional VANs can be used to induce new ferroelectric phases in SrTiO3:MgO (STO:MgO) VAN thin films. The STO:MgO system incorporates ordered, vertically aligned MgO nanopillars into a STO film matrix. Strong lattice coupling between STO and MgO imposes a large lattice strain in the STO film. We have investigated ferroelectricity in the STO phase, existing up to room temperature, using piezoresponse force microscopy, phase field simulation and second harmonic generation. We also serendipitously discovered the formation of metastable TiO nanocores in MgO nanopillars embedded in the STO film matrix. Our results emphasize the design of new phases via vertical epitaxial strain in VAN thin films

    Prediction of Spin Polarized Fermi Arcs in Quasiparticle Interference of CeBi

    Get PDF
    We predict that CeBi in the ferromagnetic state is a Weyl semimetal. Our calculations within density functional theory show the existence of two pairs of Weyl nodes on the momentum path (0,0,kz)(0, 0, k_z) at 1515 meV} above and 100100 meV below the Fermi level. Two corresponding Fermi arcs are obtained on surfaces of mirror-symmetric (010)-oriented slabs at E=15E=15 meV and both arcs are interrupted into three segments due to hybridization with a set of trivial surface bands. By studying the spin texture of surface states, we find the two Fermi arcs are strongly spin-polarized but in opposite directions, which can be detected by spin-polarized ARPES measurements. Our theoretical study of quasiparticle interference (QPI) for a nonmagnetic impurity at the Bi site also reveals several features related to the Fermi arcs. Specifically, we predict that the spin polarization of the Fermi arcs leads to a bifurcation-shaped feature only in the spin-dependent QPI spectrum, serving as a fingerprint of the Weyl nodes.Comment: 9 pages with 9 embedded figures. Supplemental material shortene

    Surface Effects on Anisotropic Photoluminescence in One-Dimensional Organic Metal Halide Hybrids

    Full text link
    One-dimensional (1D) organic metal halide hybrids exhibit strongly anisotropic optical properties, highly efficient light emission, and large Stokes shift, holding promises for novel photodetection and lighting applications. However, the fundamental mechanisms governing their unique optical properties and in particular the impacts of surface effects are not understood. Here, we investigate 1D C4N2H14PbBr4 by polarization-dependent time-averaged and time-resolved photoluminescence (TRPL) spectroscopy, as a function of photoexcitation energy. Surprisingly, we find that the emission under photoexcitation polarized parallel to the 1D metal halide chains can be either stronger or weaker than that under perpendicular polarization, depending on the excitation energy. We attribute the excitation-energy-dependent anisotropic emission to fast surface recombination, supported by first-principles calculations of optical absorption in this material. The fast surface recombination is directly confirmed by TRPL measurements, when the excitation is polarized parallel to the chains. Our comprehensive studies provide a more complete picture for a deeper understanding of the optical anisotropy in 1D organic metal halide hybrids

    Manipulating Multiple Order Parameters via Oxygen Vacancies: The case of Eu0.5Ba0.5TiO3-{\delta}

    Get PDF
    Controlling functionalities, such as magnetism or ferroelectricity, by means of oxygen vacancies (VO) is a key issue for the future development of transition metal oxides. Progress in this field is currently addressed through VO variations and their impact on mainly one order parameter. Here we reveal a new mechanism for tuning both magnetism and ferroelectricity simultaneously by using VO. Combined experimental and density-functional theory studies of Eu0.5Ba0.5TiO3-{\delta}, we demonstrate that oxygen vacancies create Ti3+ 3d1 defect states, mediating the ferromagnetic coupling between the localized Eu 4f7 spins, and increase an off-center displacement of Ti ions, enhancing the ferroelectric Curie temperature. The dual function of Ti sites also promises a magnetoelectric coupling in the Eu0.5Ba0.5TiO3-{\delta}.Comment: Accepted by Physical Review B, 201

    Magnetic, electronic, and optical properties of double perovskite Bi2FeMnO6

    No full text
    Double perovskite Bi2FeMnO6 is a potential candidate for the single-phase multiferroic system. In this work, we study the magnetic, electronic, and optical properties in BFMO by performing the density functional theory calculations and experimental measurements of magnetic moment. We also demonstrate the strain dependence of magnetization. More importantly, our calculations of electronic and optical properties reveal that the onsite local correlation on Mn and Fe sites is critical to the gap opening in BFMO, which is a prerequisite condition for the ferroelectric ordering. Finally, we calculate the x-ray magnetic circular dichroism spectra of Fe and Mn ions (L2 and L3 edges) in BFMO

    Effects of biaxial strain on the improper multiferroicity in \u3ci\u3eh\u3c/i\u3e-LuFeO\u3csub\u3e3\u3c/sub\u3e films studied using the restrained thermal expansion method

    Get PDF
    Elastic strain is potentially an important approach in tuning the properties of the improperly multiferroic hexagonal ferrites, the details of which, however, have been elusive due to experimental difficulties. Employing the method of restrained thermal expansion, we have studied the effect of isothermal biaxial strain in the basal plane of h-LuFeO3 (001) films. The results indicate that a compressive biaxial strain significantly enhances the K3 structural distortion (the order parameter of the improper ferroelectricity), and the effect is larger at higher temperatures. The compressive biaxial strain and the enhanced K3 structural distortion together cause an increase in the electric polarization and a reduction in the canting of the weak ferromagnetic moments in h-LuFeO3, according to our first principles calculations. These findings are important for understanding the strain effect as well as the coupling between the lattice and the improper multiferroicity in h-LuFeO3. The experimental elucidation of the strain effect in h-LuFeO3 films also suggests that the restrained thermal expansion can be a viable method to unravel the strain effect in many other thin film materials
    corecore