Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Chunyu Guo, Carsten Putzke, Sofia Konyzheva, Xiangwei Huang, Martin Gutierrez-Amigo, Ion Errea, Dong Chen, Maia G. Vergniory, Claudia Felser, Mark H. Fischer, Titus Neupert, Philip J. W. Moll
Summary: This study reports the observation of chiral transport in the centrosymmetric layered kagome metal CsV3Sb5 via second-harmonic generation. The chirality is induced by the out-of-plane component of the magnetic field and can be switched from left-handed transport to right-handed transport by changing the field sign. CsV3Sb5 is the first material in which strong chiral transport can be controlled and switched by small magnetic field changes.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Richard J. Mandle
Summary: This article presents the latest research progress in the field of nematic liquid crystals, including the discovery of new nematic phases, the understanding of their molecular origins, the role of molecular structure, and future directions.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Hiroya Nishikawa, Fumito Araoka
Summary: A novel chiral nematic phase Np* with a polar helical order has been realized, which is characterized by a continuously twisted polarization and ultrafast electro-optic switching performance. The properties of Np* differ from conventional cholesteric phases and have been confirmed through transmission spectroscopy and measurements. This unique Np*LC structure suggests new potential applications for electrically interchangeable photonic bandgaps.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Tianhao Ren, Pedro M. Lozano, Qiang Li, Genda Gu, Alexei M. Tsvelik
Summary: Recent measurements of angle-resolved c-axis resistivity in stripe-ordered La2-xBaxCuO4 (LBCO) with x = 1/8 have shown an unexpected dependence on the direction of the in-plane magnetic field. These findings suggest the existence of two different types of superconducting pairs in x = 1/8 LBCO: one type confined to the Cu-O planes with finite momentum, and the other type, probably the conventional d wave with zero momentum, propagating along narrow conducting channels in the c-axis direction. The observed exponential temperature dependence of c-axis resistivity rho c(T) is attributed to thermally excited slips of the superconducting phase and flux flows. A simple theory is presented to explain the observed z/2-periodic dependence of rho c on the direction of the in-plane magnetic field and other data.
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Changhua Bao, Hongyun Zhang, Teng Zhang, Xi Wu, Laipeng Luo, Shaohua Zhou, Qian Li, Yanhui Hou, Wei Yao, Liwei Liu, Pu Yu, Jia Li, Wenhui Duan, Hong Yao, Yeliang Wang, Shuyun Zhou
Summary: Researchers have reported direct experimental evidence of chiral symmetry breaking (CSB) in Li-intercalated graphene, showing gap opening at the Dirac point, Kekule-O type modulation, and chirality mixing near the gap edge. This work opens up opportunities for investigating CSB related physics in a Kekule-ordered graphene.
PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Ewelina Dmochowska, Jakub Herman, Michal Czerwinski, Sergei Stulov, Alexej Bubnov, Przemyslaw Kula
Summary: The paper discusses the stabilisation and control of synclinic and anticlinic chiral liquid crystalline phases, presenting new chiral calamitic reactive mesogens designed to stabilize these phases in liquid crystalline mixtures. These compounds show a high tendency to form smectic phases and can be effective for stabilising ferroelectric and antiferroelectric phases in various states. Additionally, the thermal polymerisation of specific reactive mesogens can help reduce the drawbacks of polymer stabilisation.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR LIQUIDS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Atsushi Seki, Masahiro Funahashi, Ken'ichi Aoki
Summary: In this study, we synthesized four liquid-crystalline compounds with extended pi-conjugation and successfully observed clear nondispersive photocurrent decays in the ordered phase. Furthermore, the polar structure induced by poling treatment was successfully stabilized, resulting in the enhancement of the output performance for the ferroelectric bulk photovoltaic effect.
BULLETIN OF THE CHEMICAL SOCIETY OF JAPAN
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Mukhtar L. Adam, Zhanfeng Liu, Oyawale A. Moses, Xiaojun Wu, Li Song
Summary: Controlled doping and intercalation of donor atoms can enhance the superconducting behavior of materials, as demonstrated by the 20-fold increase in superconducting temperature of TaSe2 through Sn atoms intercalation. The existence of nontrivial topological features, such as nodal lines and drumhead-like surface states with inversion symmetry, in Sn0.5TaSe2 make it a potential candidate for topological superconductivity.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Shengxuan Lin, Yifan Wang, Yuhang Chen, Zihe Cai, Jiajia Xiao, Tahir Muhmood, Xiaobin Hu
Summary: By fabricating a 3D ordered interconnected nanostructure in the electrode, electrode polarization in lithium batteries with high electrode thickness can be reduced, leading to improved performance. The nitrogen-doped carbon photonic crystal (NCPC) with the nanostructure allows for fast charge transfer rate and uniform distribution of electrons and lithium ions, diminishing concentration polarization and gradient.
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
S. Benhabib, C. Lupien, I. Paul, L. Berges, M. Dion, M. Nardone, A. Zitouni, Z. Q. Mao, Y. Maeno, A. Georges, L. Taillefer, C. Proust
Summary: Ultrasound experiments show that the superconducting order parameter in strontium ruthenate must have two components. The nature of its superconducting order parameter is still under debate. The observed sharp jump in the shear elastic constant directly implies the superconducting order parameter is of a two-component nature.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Havard Homleid Haugen, Egor Babaev, Fredrik Nicolai Krohg, Asle Sudbo
Summary: We studied the phase transitions between a two-component chiral p-wave superconductor and normal state in zero external magnetic field using large-scale Monte Carlo computations. We found a first-order phase transition from the normal state to a chiral superconducting state, driven by the interplay between vortices and domain walls.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Mohammad Asrafusjaman, Jakiul Islam, M. Azizar Rahman, AbuI Kashem Mohammad Akther Hossain
Summary: Density functional theory-based ab-initio calculations were performed to analyze the structural properties, mechanical stability, ductility/brittleness behaviors, optical response, electronic characteristics, and superconducting transition temperature of chiral TaRh2B2 and NbRh2B2 compounds under pressure. Both compounds exhibited mechanical stability and ductile behavior. The reflectivity spectra indicated their potential as efficient reflecting materials in the visible energy region. The Debye temperatures and superconducting transition temperatures were influenced by applied pressure, suggesting the possibility of changing superconducting properties.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Abishek K. Iyer, Jingyang He, Hongyao Xie, Devin Goodling, Duck-Young Chung, Venkatraman Gopalan, Mercouri G. Kanatzidis
Summary: This paper reports the stabilization of non-centrosymmetric gamma-NaAsSe2 by doping the As site with Sb, resulting in gamma-NaAs0.95Sb0.05Se2. The single-crystal SHG coefficient of gamma-NaAs0.95Sb0.05Se2 exhibits an enormous value, comparable to that of gamma-NaAsSe2 and approximately 20 times larger than that of AgGaSe2. The bandgap of gamma-NaAs0.95Sb0.05Se2 is similar to that of AgGaSe2, making it highly attractive as a high-performing nonlinear optical material.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
David R. Saykin, Camron Farhang, Erik D. Kountz, Dong Chen, Brenden R. Ortiz, Chandra Shekhar, Claudia Felser, Stephen D. Wilson, Ronny Thomale, Jing Xia, Aharon Kapitulnik
Summary: This study reports high-resolution polar Kerr effect measurements on CsV3Sb5 single crystals to search for evidence of spontaneous time-reversal symmetry breaking below the charge-order transition. Utilizing two different versions of zero-area loop Sagnac interferometers operating at 1550 nm wavelength, the researchers found no observable Kerr effect within the noise floor limit. Simultaneous coherent reflection ratio measurements confirmed the sharpness of the charge-order transition, suggesting that time-reversal symmetry is unlikely to be broken in the charge ordered state in CsV3Sb5.
PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Hong-Min Jiang, Ming-Xun Liu, Shun-Li Yu
Summary: Motivated by recent experimental evidence of chiral charge order in vanadium-based kagome superconductors, this theoretical investigation explores the impact of chiral flux charge order on normal and superconducting properties. The study finds that chiral flux charge order partially gaps the spectral weight on the Fermi surface, but preserves spectral weight on certain points, resulting in consistent energy gap patterns. Additionally, the investigation reveals that chiral flux charge order transforms a conventional fully gapped superconducting state into a nodal gap feature, accompanied by changes in density of states. These findings can potentially explain divergent experimental outcomes regarding superconducting pairing symmetry.
Article
Electrochemistry
J. M. Tranquada
Summary: This article discusses John Goodenough's insights into magnetism and mixed valence in transition-metal oxides, highlighting their importance in understanding materials with technologically-important functionalities such as colossal magnetoresistance, enhanced thermopower, and high-temperature superconductivity.
JOURNAL OF THE ELECTROCHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2022)
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
D. Nevola, N. Zaki, J. M. Tranquada, W. -G. Yin, G. D. Gu, Q. Li, P. D. Johnson
Summary: An intense debate has arisen recently regarding the changes induced by light in iron-chalcogenide superconductors, specifically the enhancement of superconductivity and the emergence of a metastable state. Through high-energy resolution techniques, we directly observe the melting of superconductivity on ultrafast timescales. Our results demonstrate a non-equilibrium response on short timescales, with the gap filling in before the destruction of the superconducting peak, followed by a metastable response. We propose that pair phase decoherence and an increase in double-stripe correlations competing with superconductivity could explain these observations. These findings contribute to the exciting advancements in iron-based superconductors and suggest that the photoinduced metastable state may compete with superconductivity.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Zhendong Jin, Yangmu Li, Zhigang Hu, Biaoyan Hu, Yiran Liu, Kazuki Iida, Kazuya Kamazawa, Matthew B. Stone, Alexander I. Kolesnikov, Douglas L. Abernathy, Xiangyu Zhang, Haiyang Chen, Yandong Wang, Chen Fang, Biao Wu, Igor A. Zaliznyak, John M. Tranquada, Yuan Li
Summary: A large body of knowledge about magnetism is obtained from models of interacting spins on magnetic ions. However, proposals beyond the ionic picture are rare and rarely verified. In this study, using inelastic neutron scattering, it is found that the fundamental magnetic units in the near-ferromagnet MnSi are extended molecular orbitals consisting of three Mn atoms, contrasting the ionic picture. This discovery provides important insights into both MnSi and a broad range of magnetic quantum materials.
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Zengyi Du, Hui Li, Genda Gu, Abhay N. Pasupathy, John M. Tranquada, Kazuhiro Fujita
Summary: Traditionally, x-ray scattering has been used to detect lattice structural symmetry breaking due to charge density wave formation in cuprate pseudogap states. Spectroscopic imaging scanning tunneling microscopy has visualized short-range charge density waves. However, visualizing the local coupling of electrons to the lattice has been challenging. In this study, a novel STM-based technique was introduced to visualize local bond-length variations, revealing electron-lattice coupling in the pseudogap state and linking x-ray scattering and STM measurements.
Article
Physics, Condensed Matter
Roberta Caruso, Fernando Camino, Genda Gu, John M. M. Tranquada, Myung-Geun Han, Yimei Zhu, Anthony T. T. Bollinger, Ivan Bozovic
Summary: Focused ion beam (FIB) milling is a technique that can shape 3D materials on a small scale. This study explores FIB patterning of LSCO crystals for resistivity measurements. However, there are detrimental factors that compromise the effectiveness of FIB milling for fabricating sub-micrometer LSCO devices, especially in the underdoped regime.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Machteld E. Kamminga, Kristine M. L. Krighaar, Astrid T. Romer, Lise O. Sandberg, Pascale P. Deen, Martin Boehm, Genda D. Gu, John M. Tranquada, Kim Lefmann
Summary: We investigated the effect of uniaxial stress on magnetic stripes in the cuprate system La2-xBaxCuO4. The superconducting transition temperature was found to be enhanced under stress. Neutron scattering confirmed that stress suppresses static stripes, suggesting a trade-off between superconductivity and static magnetism. Our results also revealed a displacement of weight from the elastic channel to the inelastic channel and a shift in the momentum of fluctuations towards the typical 1/8 value of commensurability.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Tianchen Hu, Hanqi Pi, Shuxiang Xu, Li Yue, Qiong Wu, Qiaomei Liu, Sijie Zhang, Rongsheng Li, Xinyu Zhou, Jiayu Yuan, Dong Wu, Tao Dong, Hongming Weng, Nanlin Wang
Summary: We have discovered that ScV6Sn6, a new intermetallic material with kagome lattice, undergoes a first-order structural phase transition at around 92K, forming a 3 x 3 x 3 charge density wave. Optical spectroscopy and band structure calculations revealed abrupt changes in optical reflectivity/conductivity spectra and band structure after the transition. This provides important insights into the origin of the structural phase transition in this unique kagome lattice intermetallic material.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
J. Sears, Y. Shen, M. J. Krogstad, H. Miao, E. S. Bozin, I. K. Robinson, G. D. Gu, R. Osborn, S. Rosenkranz, J. M. Tranquada, M. P. M. Dean
Summary: The interaction between charge density wave (CDW) and lattice plays a crucial role in La1.875Ba0.125CuO4, inducing periodic modulation of Cu-Cu spacing within the CuO2 planes and out-of-plane breathing modulation of lanthanum layers. The CDW-related structural distortions propagate through the crystal, leading to overlapping structural modulations in adjacent layers and within the same layer. This effect could facilitate the coupling of CDWs between adjacent planes.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Xiao Hu, A. Sapkota, V. O. Garlea, G. D. Gu, I. A. Zaliznyak, J. M. Tranquada
Summary: The dominant magnetic interaction in La2CuO4 is superexchange between nearest-neighbor Cu moments, but the pinning of the spin direction depends on weak anisotropic effects associated with spin-orbit coupling. The symmetry of the octahedral tilt pattern allows for out-of-plane canting of the Cu spins, which can be compensated by opposite canting in nearest-neighbor layers. Applying a strong magnetic field perpendicular to the planes can induce a weak ferromagnetic phase by altering the spin canting pattern.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
I. Mohelsky, J. Wyzula, B. A. Piot, G. D. Gu, Q. Li, A. Akrap, M. Orlita
Summary: Using Landau-level spectroscopy, the temperature dependence of the energy band gap in zirconium pentatelluride (ZrTe5) is determined. It is found that the band gap reaches E-g = (5 & PLUSMN; 1) meV at low temperatures and increases monotonically with the temperature. This implies that ZrTe5 is a weak topological insulator with noninverted ordering of electronic bands in the center of the Brillouin zone. Magnetotransport experiments show that the resistivity anomaly in ZrTe5 is not connected with the temperature dependence of the band gap.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Yangmu Li, A. Sapkota, P. M. Lozano, Zengyi Du, Hui Li, Zebin Wu, Asish K. Kundu, R. J. Koch, Lijun Wu, B. L. Winn, Songxue Chi, M. Matsuda, M. Frontzek, E. S. Bozin, Yimei Zhu, I. Bozovic, Abhay N. Pasupathy, Ilya K. Drozdov, Kazuhiro Fujita, G. D. Gu, I. A. Zaliznyak, Qiang Li, J. M. Tranquada
Summary: The interpretation of how superconductivity disappears in cuprates at large hole doping has been controversial. To address this issue, we studied La2-xSrxCuO4 (LSCO) samples with x=0.25. Our experimental results show that in LSCO crystals with x=0.25, there are two superconducting transition temperatures, Tc1 and Tc2, where Tc1 is 38.5 K and indicates the onset of diamagnetism, while Tc2 is 18 K and represents full bulk shielding. Moreover, we found that in strongly overdoped cuprates, superconductivity initially develops within disconnected self-organized grains characterized by reduced hole concentration, and there are still some regions with pairing correlations, but they are too dilute to support superconducting order.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Zhendong Jin, Biaoyan Hu, Yiran Liu, Yangmu Li, Tiantian Zhang, Kazuki Iida, Kazuya Kamazawa, A. Kolesnikov, M. B. Stone, Xiangyu Zhang, Haiyang Chen, Yandong Wang, I. A. Zaliznyak, J. M. Tranquada, Chen Fang, Yuan Li
Summary: In this study, a combination of inelastic neutron scattering and ab initio calculations is used to identify various topological phonon band crossings in MnSi and CoSi single crystals. The relation between the Chern numbers of a band-crossing node and the scattering intensity modulation in momentum space around the node are discovered, and a method is proposed to determine arbitrarily large Chern numbers.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Wenhua Song, Lingxiao Zhao, Xuchuan Wu, Zilu Wang, Qingxin Liu, Man Li, Huan Ma, Pengfei Ding, G. -D. Gu, G. -F. Chen, S. -C. Wang
Summary: In this study, the temperature evolution of the band structures of ZrTe5 was investigated using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy. Two distinct types of band shift with temperature were observed. By assuming ZrTe5 is a semiconductor with a limited amount of impurities, the discrepancies in band structures and the controversial results on temperature-dependent band shifts were explained in a unified picture.
