Search results for "Nanoscience"

High pressure theoretical and experimental analysis of the bandgap of BaMoO4, PbMoO4, and CdMoO4

2019

We have investigated the origin of the bandgap of BaMoO4, PbMoO4, and CdMoO4 crystals on the basis of optical absorption spectroscopy experiments and ab initio electronic band structure, density of states, and electronic localization function calculations under high pressure. Our study provides an accurate determination of the bandgaps Eg and their pressure derivatives d E g / dP for BaMoO4 (4.43 eV, −4.4 meV/GPa), PbMoO4 (3.45 eV, −53.8 meV/GPa), and CdMoO4 (3.71 eV, −3.3 meV/GPa). The absorption edges were fitted with the Urbach exponential model which we demonstrate to be the most appropriate for thick crystals with direct bandgaps. So far, the narrowing of the bandgap of distinct PbMoO4…

Spin–orbit torque driven multi-level switching in He + irradiated W–CoFeB–MgO Hall bars with perpendicular anisotropy

2020

We have investigated the spin–orbit torque-driven magnetization switching in W/CoFeB/MgO Hall bars with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. He+ ion irradiation through a mask has been used to reduce locally the effective perpendicular anisotropy at a Hall cross. Anomalous Hall effect measurements combined with Kerr microscopy indicate that the switching process is dominated by domain wall (DW) nucleation in the irradiated region followed by rapid domain propagation at a current density as low as 0.8 MA/cm2 with an assisting in-plane magnetic field. Thanks to the implemented strong pinning of the DW at the transition between the irradiated and the non-irradiated region, an intermediate Hall r…

Impact of the interplay of piezoelectric strain and current-induced heating on the field-like spin–orbit torque in perpendicularly magnetized Ta/Co20…

2021

Spin–orbit torques (SOTs) are known to be the most efficient way to manipulate the magnetization direction by electrical currents. While, conventionally, one symmetry component of the SOTs, namely, the damping-like torque, was considered to play a primary role, recently, the significance of the other component, the field-like torque, has been revised, owing to the non-trivial dynamics it can induce in heavy metal/ferromagnet multilayers. In this work, we first discuss the unusual behavior of the field-like SOT in a Ta/CoFeB/Ta/MgO multilayer system with a reduced magnetic anisotropy and demonstrate an energy-efficient approach to manipulate the magnitude of the SOT effective fields. Finally…

Antiferromagnetic NiO thickness dependent sign of the spin Hall magnetoresistance in γ-Fe 2 O 3 /NiO/Pt epitaxial stacks

2019

We study the spin Hall magnetoresistance (SMR) in epitaxial γ–Fe2O3/NiO(001)/Pt stacks, as a function of temperature and thickness of the antiferromagnetic insulating NiO layer. Upon increasing the thickness of NiO from 0 nm to 10 nm, we detect a sign change of the SMR in the temperature range between 10 K and 280 K. This temperature dependence of the SMR in our stacks is different compared to that of previously studied yttrium iron garnet/NiO/Pt, as we do not find any peak or sign change as a function of temperature. We explain our data by a combination of spin current reflection from both the NiO/Pt and γ-Fe2O3/NiO interfaces and the thickness-dependent exchange coupling mode between the …

Positron annihilation characterization of free volume in microand macro-modified Cu0.4Co0.4Ni0.4Mn1.8O4ceramics

2016

Free volume and pore size distribution size in functional micro and macro-micro-modified Cu0.4Co0.4Ni0.4Mn1.8O4 ceramics are characterized by positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy in comparison with Hg-porosimetry and scanning electron microscopy technique. Positron annihilation results are interpreted in terms of model implication positron trapping and ortho-positronium decaying. It is shown that free volume of positron traps are the same type for macro and micro modified Cu0.4Co0.4Ni0.4Mn1.8O4 ceramics. Classic Tao-Eldrup model in spherical approximation is used to calculation of the size of nanopores smaller than 2 nm using the ortho-positronium lifetime.

2019

We systematically study the pump-wavelength dependence of terahertz pulse generation in thin-film spintronic THz emitters composed of a ferromagnetic CoFeB layer between adjacent nonmagnetic W and Pt layers. We find that the efficiency of THz generation is essentially flat for excitation by 150 fs pulses with center wavelengths ranging from 900 to 1500 nm, demonstrating that the spin current does not depend strongly on the pump photon energy. We show that the inclusion of dielectric overlayers of TiO2 and SiO2, designed for a particular excitation wavelength, can enhance the terahertz emission by a factor of up to two in field.

Enhancing domain wall velocity through interface intermixing in W-CoFeB-MgO films with perpendicular anisotropy

2019

We study the influence of He+ irradiation induced interface intermixing on magnetic domain wall (DW) dynamics in W-CoFeB (0.6 nm)-MgO ultrathin films, which exhibit high perpendicular magnetic anisotropy and large Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction (DMI) values. Whereas the pristine films exhibit strong DW pinning, we observe a large increase in the DW velocity in the creep regime upon He+ irradiation, which is attributed to the reduction of pinning centers induced by interface intermixing. Asymmetric in-plane field-driven domain expansion experiments show that the DMI value is slightly reduced upon irradiation, and a direct relationship between DMI and interface anisotropy is demonstrated. …

First principles simulations on migration paths of oxygen interstitials in magnesium aluminate spinel

2018

This study has been carried out within the framework of the EURO fusion Consortium and has been provided funding from the Euratom research and training program 2014–2018 under grant agreement No. 633053. The authors are indebted to A.I. Popov, A.C. Lushchik and R. Vila for stimulating discussions. Technical assistance from O. Lisovski is appreciated too. The views and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of the European Commission. Calculations have been performed using Marconi supercomputer system based in Italy at CINECA Supercomputing Centre.

Optimization of physicochemical and optical properties of nanocrystalline TiO 2 deposited on porous silicon by metal-organic chemical vapor depositio…

2020

International audience; Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is very employed in solar cells due to its interesting physicochemical and optical properties allowing high device performances. Considering the extension of applications in nanotechnologies, nanocrystalline TiO2 is very promising for nanoscale components. In this work, nanocrystalline TiO2 thin films were successfully deposited on porous silicon (PSi) by metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) technique at temperature of 550°C for different periods of times: 5, 10 and 15 min. The objective was to optimize the physicochemical and optical properties of the TiO2/PSi films dedicated for photovoltaic application. The structural, morphologi…

The interdependence of structural and electrical properties in TiO2/TiO/Ti periodic multilayers

2013

International audience; Multilayered structures with 14-50 nm periods composed of titanium and two different titanium oxides, TiO and TiO2, were accurately produced by DC magnetron sputtering using the reactive gas pulsing process. The structure and composition of these periodic TiO2/TiO/Ti stacks were investigated by X-ray diffraction and transmission electronic microscopy techniques. Two crystalline phases, hexagonal close packed Ti and face centred cubic TiO, were identified in the metallic-rich sub-layers, whereas the oxygen-rich ones comprised a mixture of amorphous TiO2 and rutile phase. DC electrical resistivity rho measured for temperatures ranging from 300 to 500 K exhibited a meta…