Synchrotron X-ray diffraction study of a charge stripe order in 1/8-doped La1.875_{1.875}Ba0.125−x_{0.125-x}Srx_{x}CuO4_{4}

Lattice distortions associated with charge stripe order in 1/8 hole-doped La$_{1.875}$Ba$_{0.125-x}$Sr$_{x}$CuO$_{4}$ are studied using synchrotron X-ray diffraction for $x=0.05$ and $x=0.075$. The propagation wave vector and charge order correlation lengths are determined with a high accuracy, revealing that the oblique charge stripes in orthorhombic $x=0.075$ crystal are more disordered than the aligned stripes in tetragonal $x=0.05$ crystal. The twofold periodicity of lattice modulations along the c-axis is explained by long-range Coulomb interactions between holes on neighboring CuO$_{2}$ planes.Comment: 4pages, 4figures, Submitted to PR

Effect of zwitterions on electrochemical properties of oligoether-based electrolytes

Solid polymer electrolytes show great potential in electrochemical devices. Poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) has been studied as a matrix for solid polymer electrolytes because it has relatively high ionic conductivity. In order to investigate the effect of zwitterions on the electrochemical properties of poly(ethylene glycol) dimethyl ether (G5)/lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl) amide (LiFSA) electrolytes, a liquid zwitterion (ImZ2) was added to the G5-based electrolytes. In this study, G5, which is a small oligomer, was used as a model compound for PEO matrices. The thermal properties, ionic conductivity, and electrochemical stability of the electrolytes with ImZ2 were evaluated. The thermal stabilities of all the G5-based electrolytes with ImZ2 were above 150 °C, and the ionic conductivity values were in the range of 0.8–3.0 mS cm−1 at room temperature. When the electrolytes contained less than 5.5 wt% ImZ2, the ionic conductivity values were almost the same as that of the electrolyte without ImZ2. The electrochemical properties were improved with the incorporation of ImZ2. The anodic limit of the electrolyte with 5.5 wt% ImZ2 was 5.3 V vs. Li/Li+, which was over 1 V higher than that of G5/LiFSA

Competition between charge/spin-density-wave orders and superconductivity in La1.875_{1.875}Ba0.125−x_{0.125-x}Srx_{x}CuO4_{4}

We have performed a series of elastic neutron scattering measurements on 1/8-hole doped La$_{1.875}$Ba$_{0.125-x}$Sr$_{x}$CuO$_{4}$ single crystals with {\it x} = 0.05, 0.06, 0.075 and 0.085. % Both charge-density-wave (CDW) and spin-density-wave (SDW) orders are found to develop simultaneously below the structural transition temperature between the low-temperature orthorhombic (LTO) and low-temperature tetragonal (LTT) or low-temperature less-orthorhombic (LTLO) phases. % In the ground state the CDW order is observed only in the LTT/LTLO phase and drastically degrades towards the LTO boundary. The {\it x}-dependence of {\it T}$_{c}$ strongly suggests a direct effect of the CDW order on the suppression of superconductivity. % Results are discussed in comparison with those from the La$_{1.6-x}$Nd$_{0.4}$Sr$_{x}$CuO$_{4}$ system within the framework of the stripe model.Comment: 4 pages, 5figure

Effect of β-Cyclodextrin on Physicochemical Properties of an Ionic Liquid Electrolyte Composed of N-Methyl-N-Propylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amide

Ionic liquids (ILs) are promising electrolyte materials for developing next-generation rechargeable batteries. In order to improve their properties, several kinds of additives have been investigated. In this study, β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) was chosen as a new additive in IL electrolytes because it can form an inclusion complex with bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amide (TFSA) anions. We prepared the composites by mixing N-methyl-N-propylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amide/LiTFSA and a given amount of triacetyl-β-cyclodextrin (Acβ-CD). The thermal behaviors and electrochemical properties of the composites were analyzed by several techniques. In addition, pulse field gradient NMR measurements were conducted to determine the self-diffusion coefficients of the component ions. The addition of Acβ-CD to the IL electrolytes results in the decrease in the conductivity value and the increase in the viscosity value. In contrast, the addition of Acβ-CD to the IL electrolytes induced an improvement in the anodic stability because of the formation of an inclusion complex between the Acβ-CD and TFSA anions. CDs are potential candidates as additives in IL electrolytes for electrochemical applications

Low-frequency incommensurate magnetic response in strongly correlated systems

It is shown that in the t-J model of Cu-O planes at low frequencies the dynamic spin structure factor is peaked at incommensurate wave vectors (1/2+-delta,1/2)$, (1/2,1/2+-delta). The incommensurability is connected with the momentum dependencies of the magnon frequency and damping near the antiferromagnetic wave vector. The behavior of the incommensurate peaks is similar to that observed in La_{2-x}(Ba,Sr)_xCuO_{4+y} and YBa_2Cu_3O_{7-y}: for hole concentrations 0.02<x<=0.12 we find that delta is nearly proportional to x, while for x>0.12 it tends to saturation. The incommensurability disappears with increasing temperature. Generally the incommensurate magnetic response is not accompanied by an inhomogeneity of the carrier density.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Direct evidence for charge stripes in a layered cobalt oxide

Recent experiments indicate that static stripe-like charge order is generic to the hole-doped copper oxide superconductors and competes with superconductivity. Here we show that a similar type of charge order is present in La5/3 Sr1/3 CoO4 , an insulating analogue of the copper oxide superconductors containing cobalt in place of copper. The stripe phase we have detected is accompanied by short-range, quasi-one-dimensional, antiferromagnetic order, and provides a natural explanation for the distinctive hour- glass shape of the magnetic spectrum previously observed in neutron scattering mea- surements of La2−xSrx CoO4 and many hole-doped copper oxide superconductors. The results establish a solid empirical basis for theories of the hourglass spectrum built on short-range, quasi-static, stripe correlations

Static and dynamic spin correlations in the spin-glass phase of slightly-doped La_{2-x}Sr_xCuO_4

Neutron scattering experiments reveal that a diagonal spin modulation, which is a one-dimensional modulation rotated away by 45$^\circ$ from that in the superconducting phase, occurs universally across the insulating spin-glass phase in La$_{2-x}$Sr$_x$CuO$_4$ (0.02$\le x\le$0.055). This establishes an intimate relation between the magnetism and the transport properties in the high-temperature copper oxide superconductors. Furthermore, it is found that the charge density per unit length estimated using a charge stripe model is almost constant throughout the phase diagram, even when the modulation rotates away by 45$^\circ$ at the superconducting boundary. However, at the lowest values for $x$ the density changes approaching 1 hole/Cu as in La$_{2-x}$Sr$_x$NiO$_4$. Magnetic excitation spectra suggest that magnetic correlations change from incommensurate to commensurate at $\omega\sim$7 meV and $T\sim$70 K, indicating a characteristic energy for the incommensurate structure of 6-7 meV.Comment: 7 pages, submitted to Phys. Rev.

Stripes and Superconductivity in Cuprates

Holes doped into the CuO2 planes of cuprate parent compounds frustrate the antiferromagnetic order. The development of spin and charge stripes provides a compromise between the competing magnetic and kinetic energies. Static stripe order has been observed only in certain particular compounds, but there are signatures which suggest that dynamic stripe correlations are common in the cuprates. Though stripe order is bad for superconducting phase coherence, stripes are compatible with strong pairing. Ironically, magnetic-field-induced stripe order appears to enhance the stability of superconducting order within the planes.Comment: 6 pages, submitted to proceedings of ECRYS-201