National Institute Of Materials Physics - Romania

Present work reports a systematic study on the evaluation of magnetic inhomogeneities in non-stoichiometric Mg0 & sdot;5Ca0 & sdot;5Fe2O4 nanoferrite (MCNF) by conducting exhaustive dc -magnetization, ac -susceptibility and Fe-57 Mossbauer spectroscopic measurements and exchange bias investigations using training protocol down to 6 K. Rietveld fitting to PXRD established the formation of anticipated spinel fcc phase of MCNF (non-stoichiometric) along with a minute impurity phase of calcite. Scherrer method and HRTEM micrographs illustrated broad size distribution of MCNF nanoparticles with an average nanocrystallite size of -15 nm. Combined 57Fe Mo center dot ssbauer spectroscopic and dc -magnetization analysis establishes coexistence of ferrimagnetic (67 %) & superparamagnetic (33 %) states at 300 K with notable M-s = 22 emu/g, M-r = 4 emu/g & H-c = 130 Oe and blocking of most of the nanoparticles of MCNF below 300 K. The coercivity followed the size -modified Kneller law for ferrimagnetic nanoparticles and the saturation magnetization abides the Bloch law. Moreover the frequencydependent ac -susceptibility investigations revealed two magnetic transitions: (i) A transition at - 330 K in the low frequency data attributed to the relaxation of blocked particles of bigger sizes under the superparamagnetic (SPM) regime and (ii) an irregularity at low temperatures is assigned to surface spin glass freezing. Surface spin glass freezing was further affirmed by the ageing experiments and dynamic scaling law. Furthermore, even the best fit to the dynamic scaling couldn't assert the existence of conventional spin glass phase due to slower spin -flip time of surface spins. A soft ferrimagnetic core of MCNF is enveloped with disordered surface spins, which manifest spin glass state. Concurrently, the findings of exchange bias at 30 K and training effect at 6 K affirmed that MCNF nanoparticles are presenting themselves as FM core- SG shell system. Our experimental findings suggested magnetic inhomogeneities comprised of superparamagnetism, ferrimagnetism and disordered surface spin glass state in the non-stoichiometric MCNF.

The paper describes the chemical modification of the graphene oxide (GO) surface with glucosamine, which was conjugated to GO via a carbodiimide-mediated amidation-type reaction. The efficiency of the reaction was confirmed by FT-IR and Raman spectroscopy and elemental analysis. The elaborated functionalization significantly reduces the agglomeration of graphene oxide platelets. The interactions at the interface of GO and two types of ceramic nanoparticles (ZrO2 and Al2O3 with particle sizes of 58 nm and 158 nm, respectively) were examined by zeta potential measurements at different pH values. The viscosity of ZrO2 suspensions (35 vol% of solid loading) at 1.5 s- 1 increases from 24.8 Pas to 170.7 Pas and 142.7 Pas with the addition of GO and f-GO, respectively. The interfaces at ceramic-graphene heterostructures obtained by slip casting method have been analyzed by SEM. The investigations revealed the presence of multilayer graphene oxide and flexible single-layer f-GO within the ceramic matrix.

THz radiation emitted by ferromagnetic/non-magnetic bilayers is a new emergent field in ultra-fast spin physics phenomena with a lot of potential for technological applications in the terahertz (THz) region of the electromagnetic spectrum. The role of antiferromagnetic layers in the THz emission process is being heavily investigated at the moment. In this work, we fabricate trilayers in the form of Co/CoO/Pt and Ni/NiO/Pt with the aim of studying the magnetic properties and probing the role of very thin antiferromagnetic interlayers like NiO and CoO in transporting ultrafast spin current. First, we reveal the static magnetic properties of the samples by using temperature-dependent Squid magnetometry and then we quantify the dynamic properties with the help of ferromagnetic resonance spectroscopy. We show magnetization reversal that has large exchange bias values and we extract enhanced damping values for the trilayers. THz time-domain spectroscopy examines the influence of the antiferromagnetic interlayer in the THz emission, showing that the NiO interlayer in particular is able to transport spin current.

In order to develop the building blocks for future biosensing and spintronic applications, an engraving technique using electron beam lithography is employed in order to develop nanomagnetic pre-patterned structures with logic potential. The paper describes the realization and morphological and magnetic characterization of potentially logic-conditioned substrates, a building block to be further used as an integration platform upon which nanodevices, such as magnetic wires, or various geometrical shapes, circles, triangles, can be considered as pre-requisite for full integration into logic devices. As a proof of concept, regular arrays of FePt circles or magnetic dots were devised and structural characterization by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy proved the occurrence of the tetragonal L1(0) phase. Moreover, the magnetic characterization provided more insight into the potential of such arrays of magnetic devices as the hysteresis provided good values of magnetic coercivity, remanent and saturation magnetization. These findings show good potential for developing regular arrays of uniformly shaped magnetic entities with encouraging magnetic performances in view of potential applications in various applications.

The combination of low-temperature scanning tunnelling microscopy with a mass-selective electro-spray ion-beam deposition established the investigation of large biomolecules at nanometer and sub-nanometer scale. Due to complex architecture and conformational freedom, however, the chemical identification of building blocks of these biopolymers often relies on the presence of markers, extensive simulations, or is not possible at all. Here, we present a molecular probe-sensitisation approach addressing the identification of a specific amino acid within different peptides. A selective intermolecular interaction between the sensitiser attached at the tip-apex and the target amino acid on the surface induces an enhanced tunnelling conductance of one specific spectral feature, which can be mapped in spectroscopic imaging. Density functional theory calculations suggest a mechanism that relies on conformational changes of the sensitiser that are accompanied by local charge redistributions in the tunnelling junction, which, in turn, lower the tunnelling barrier at that specific part of the peptide. Chemical identification of the building blocks of biopolymers often considerably relies on the presence of markers, extensive simulations, or is not possible at all. Here, the authors report a molecular probe-sensitisation approach addressing the identification of a specific amino acid within different peptides.

High density samples (92-94.5 %) of MgB2 were prepared by Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS). The on-off pulsed current patterns of SPS processing were 8-4, 12-2, 24-2, 99-1. Patterns with more on pulses favor formation of a higher amount of the secondary MgB4 phase through the decomposition of MgB2. They also promote enhancement of larger MgO crystallites without a strong increase in the amount of this phase. Densification rate and pressure in the SPS chamber show a similar behavior, but their amplitude varies and the temperatures defining different stages present some shifts. As-revealed differences induced by pulsed patterns impact superconducting properties in a complex manner. An attempt to assess correlations between the pattern and different superconducting parameters is presented.

Rare-earth-free permanent magnets with the L1(0) phase are actively researched for their potential as a future class of magnetic materials, capable of operating at higher temperatures and in challenging corrosion environments such as renewable energy applications. Among these classes, MnGa shows potential, being cost effective and having interesting magnetic properties. A MnGa magnetic alloy, with composition Mn73.6Ga26.4 in atomic percent, was produced via the out-of-equilibrium method, and its structural and magnetic properties were assessed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED) and extended magnetic characterization. We show that the MnGa alloy submitted to thermal annealing in optimal conditions exhibits a two-phase microstructure, where small nanocrystals of tetragonal L1(0)/D0(22) magnetic phase are embedded within a D0(19) MnGa matrix of a non-collinear antiferromagnetic nature. These co-existing, magnetically different phases produce an optimal set of promising magnetic properties, larger than the values reported in the literature for single-phase MnGa alloys and thin films. Such large values are explained by the exchange coupling between competing non-collinear magnetic sublattices of the D0(19) MnGa with the net moment of the small magnetic nanocrystals of tetragonal symmetry.

Nano-logic magnetic structures are of great interest for spintronic applications. While the methods used for developing arrays of magnetic L1(0)-phase dots are, in most cases, based on deposition followed by annealing at high temperatures, usually around 700 degrees C, we demonstrate here a technique where a much lower annealing temperature (i.e., 400 degrees C) is needed in order to promote fully the disorder-order phase transformation and achievement of highly coercive L1(0)-phase dots. In order to develop building blocks based on arrays of L1(0)-phase FePt dots for further spintronic applications, an engraving technique using electron beam lithography is employed. This paper describes the fabrication, as well as the morphological and magnetic characterization, of regularly placed FePt dots of various shapes, as pre-requisites for integration into nano-logic devices. As a proof of concept, regular arrays of FePt circular dots were devised and their structural characterization, using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), was performed. It has been shown that annealing at only 400 degrees C for 30 min proved the occurrence of the tetragonal L1(0) phase. Moreover, structural characterization showed that the disorder-order phase transformation was complete with only the L1(0) phase detected in high resolution TEM. The magnetic characterization provided more insight into the potential of such arrays of magnetic devices with convenient values of magnetic coercivity, remanent and saturation magnetization. These findings show good potential for developing regular arrays of uniformly shaped magnetic entities with encouraging magnetic performances in view of various applications.

Among various "families" of iron-based superconductors, the quite recently discovered AeAFe(4)As(4) (where Ae is an alkali-earth metal and A is an alkali metal) has high critical current density, a very high upper critical field, and a low anisotropy, and has recently received much interest for the possibility of high magnetic field applications at the liquid hydrogen temperature. We have performed DC magnetization relaxation and frequency-dependent AC susceptibility measurements on high-quality single crystals of CaKFe4As4 with the aim of determining the pinning potential U*. The temperature dependence of U* displays a clear crossover between elastic creep and plastic creep. At temperatures around 27-28 K, U* has a very high value, up to 1200 K, resulting in an infinitesimally small probability of thermally activated flux jumps. From the dependence of the normalized pinning potential on irreversible magnetization, we have determined the creep exponents in the two creep regimes, which are in complete agreement with theoretical models. The estimation of the pinning potential from multifrequency AC susceptibility measurements was possible only near the critical temperature due to equipment limitations, and the resulting value is very close to the one that resulted from the magnetization relaxation data. Magnetic hysteresis loops revealed a second magnetization peak and very high values of the critical current density.

The effect of the demagnetizing factor, regarding the determination of the de-pairing current density Jdep, has been studied in the case of a Fe(Se,Te) crystal, using DC magnetic measurements as a function of a magnetic field (H) at different temperatures (T). First, the lower critical field Hc1(T) values were obtained, and the demagnetization effects acting on them were investigated after calculating the demagnetizing factor. The temperature behaviors of both the original Hc1 values and the ones obtained after considering the demagnetization effects (Hc1demag) were analyzed, and the temperature dependence of the London penetration depth lambda L(T) was obtained in both cases. In particular, the lambda L(T) curves were fitted with a power law dependence, indicating the presence of low-energy quasiparticle excitations. Furthermore, by plotting lambda L-2 as a function of T, we found that our sample behaves as a multigap superconductor, which is similar to other Fe-11 family iron-based compounds. After that, the coherence length xi values were extracted, starting with the Hc2(T) curve. The knowledge of lambda L and xi allowed us to determine the Jdep values and to observe how they are influenced by the demagnetizing factor.