Abstract: Particle-in-cell/Monte Carlo collision simulations, coupled with an external circuit, are used to investigate the behavior of pulsed dual-frequency (DF) capacitively coupled plasmas (CCPs). It is found that the phase shift θ between the high (or low) frequency source and the pulse modulation has a great influence on the ion density and the ionization rate. By pulsing the high frequency source, the time-averaged ion density shows a maximum when θ = 90∘. The time-averaged ion energy distribution functions (IEDFs) at the driven electrode, however, keep almost unchanged, illustrating the potential of pulsed DF-CCP for independent control of ion density (and flux) and ion energy. A detailed investigation of the temporal evolution of the plasma characteristics indicates that several high frequency harmonics can be excited at the initial stage of a pulse period by tuning the phase shift θ, and this gives rise to strong sheath oscillations, and therefore high ionization rates. For comparison, the pulsing of the low frequency source is also studied. In this case, the ion density changes slightly as a function of time, and the time-averaged ion density shows the same trend as in the HF modulation for different phase shifts θ. Moreover, the time-averaged IEDFs at the driven electrode can be modulated, showing the potential to reduce the maximum ion bombardment energy.

Abstract: The thermal stability of graphene/graphane nanoribbons (GGNRs) is investigated using density functional theory. It is found that the energy barriers for the diffusion of hydrogen atoms on the zigzag and armchair interfaces of GGNRs are 2.86 and 3.17 eV, respectively, while the diffusion barrier of an isolated H atom on pristine graphene was only ∼ 0.3 eV. These results unambiguously demonstrate that the thermal stability of GGNRs can be enhanced significantly by increasing the hydrogen diffusion barriers through graphene/graphane interface engineering. This may provide new insights for viable applications of GGNRs.

Abstract: The magnetotransport and magnetic properties of the PbV6O11 vanadate, crystallizing in the P63mc space group, reveal the existence of a negative magnetoresistance related to its ferromagnetic state (TC ∼ 90 K). The maximum effect is observed at 20 K reaching −30% in 9 T. The structural study of this ceramic reveals a V/Pb ratio smaller than expected from the formula. This is explained by the presence of numerous stacking faults observed by high resolution transmission electron microscopy. The existence of these planar defects acting as resistive barriers along the c axis could be responsible for tunneling magnetoresistance.

Abstract: The conductance through graphene nanoribbons (GNR) connected to a partially unzipped carbon nanotube (CNT) is studied in the presence of an external magnetic field applied parallel to the long axis of the tube by means of non-equilibrium Green's function technique. We consider CNTs that are partially unzipped to form armchair-GNR/zigzag-CNT/armchair-GNR or zigzag-GNR/armchair-CNT/zigzag-GNR junctions. We find that the inclusion of a longitudinal magnetic field affects the electronic states only in the CNT region, leading to the suppression of the conductance at low energies. We demonstrate that both types of junctions can be used as magnetic field sensors. (C) 2012 American Institute of Physics. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4726039]

Abstract: Electrophoretic Deposition (EPD) is one of the alternative methods to fabricate and enhance the performance of Li-ion batteries. It enables the fabrication of electrodes with outstanding qualities and different electrochemical properties by the great domination over various parameters. EPD facilitates the processing of electrodes by binder-free grafting of nanomaterials, such as graphene derivatives, carbon nanotube, and nanoparticles, into the battery electrodes. It also enables the assembly of the free-standing electrodes with 3D structure and provides possibilities, such as the fabrication of the electrodes with an oriented microstructure, even on 3D substrates to improve the energy or power density. In this review, after an introduction to EPD, the effect of EPD parameters on the properties of the prepared electrodes is reviewed. Then, EPD is compared with tape cast, and its advantages over the conventional method are evaluated. Also, employing the EPD method as an intermediate process is discussed. Finally, the application of EPD in the fabrication of separators is assessed, and the prospects for the future are described.

Abstract: The complex dielectric susceptibility and spin glass properties of polycrystalline CuCr0.5V 0.5O2 delafossite have been investigated. Electron diffraction, high resolution electron microscopy and electron energy loss spectroscopy show that the Cr3+ and V 3+ magnetic cations are randomly distributed on the triangular network of CdI2-type layers. In contrast to CuCrO2, CuCr0.5V 0.5O2 exhibits two distinctive (magnetic and electric) glassy states evidenced by memory effects in electric and magnetic susceptibilities. A large magnetodielectric coupling is observed at low temperature.

Abstract: Graphene nanosheets have recently received a revival of interest as a new class of ultrathin, high-flux, and energy-efficient sieving membranes because of their unique two-dimensional and atomically thin structure, good flexibility, and outstanding mechanical properties. However, for practical applications of graphene for advanced water purification and desalination technologies, the creation of well controlled, high-density, and subnanometer diameter pores becomes a key factor. Here, we conduct reactive force-field molecular dynamics simulations to study the effect of external strain on nanopore creation in the suspended graphene by bombardment with Si clusters. Depending on the size and energy of the clusters, different kinds of topography were observed in the graphene sheet. In all the considered conditions, tensile strain results in the creation of nanopores with regular shape and smooth edges. On the contrary, compressive strain increases the elastic response of graphene to irradiation that leads to the formation of net-like defective structures with predominantly carbon atom chains. Our findings show the possibility of creating controlled nanopores in strained graphene by bombardment with Si clusters. Published by AIP Publishing.

Abstract: Nanoindentation tests performed on nanocrystalline palladium films subjected to hydriding/dehydriding cycles demonstrate a significant softening when compared to the as-received material. The origin of this softening is unraveled by combining in situ TEM nanomechanical testing with automated crystal orientation mapping in TEM and high resolution TEM. The softening is attributed to the presence of a high density of stacking faults and of Shockley partial dislocations after hydrogen loading. The hydrogen induced defects affect the elementary plasticity mechanisms and the mechanical response by acting as preferential sites for twinning/detwinning during deformation. These results are analyzed and compared to previous experimental and simulation works in the literature. This study provides new insights into the effect of hydrogen on the atomistic deformation and cracking mechanisms as well as on the mechanical properties of nanocrystalline thin films and membranes.

Abstract: We report measurements which indicate the appearance of spontaneous vortices in lead superconducting films with embedded magnetic nanoparticles and a temperature-induced phase transition between different vortex phases. Unlike common vortices in superconductors, the vortex phase appears in the absence of applied magnetic field. The vortices nucleate exclusively due to the stray field of the magnetic nanoparticles, which serve the dual role of providing the internal field and simultaneously acting as pinning centers. Transport measurements reveal dynamical phase transitions that depend on temperature (T) and applied field (H) and support the obtained H-T phase diagram.

Abstract: Systems which rapidly evolve through symmetry-breaking transitions on timescales comparable to the fluctuation timescale of the single-particle excitations may behave very differently than under controlled near-ergodic conditions. A real-time investigation with high temporal resolution may reveal insights into the ordering through the transition that are not available in static experiments. We present an investigation of the system trajectory through a normal-to-superconductor transition in a prototype high-temperature superconducting cuprate in which such a situation occurs. Using a multiple pulse femtosecond spectroscopy technique we measure the system trajectory and time evolution of the single-particle excitations through the transition in La1.9Sr0.1CuO4 and compare the data to a simulation based on the time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau theory, using the laser excitation fluence as an adjustable parameter controlling the quench conditions in both experiment and theory. The comparison reveals the presence of significant superconducting fluctuations which precede the transition on short timescales. By including superconducting fluctuations as a seed for the growth of the superconducting order we can obtain a satisfactory agreement of the theory with the experiment. Remarkably, the pseudogap excitations apparently play no role in this process.

Abstract: Considering a noncentrosymmetric pinning texture composed of a square array of triangular holes, the magnetic flux penetration and expulsion are investigated experimentally and theoretically. A direct visualization of the magnetic landscape obtained using a magneto-optical technique on a Nb film is complemented by a multiscale numerical modeling. This combined approach allows the magnetic flux dynamics to be identified from the single flux quantum limit up to the macroscopic electromagnetic response. Within the theoretical framework provided by time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau simulations, an estimation of the in-plane current anisotropy is obtained and its dependence with the radius of the curvature of hole vertices is addressed. These simulations show that current crowding plays an important role in channeling the flux motion, favoring hole-to-hole flux hopping rather than promoting interstitial flux displacement in between the holes. The resulting anisotropy of the critical current density gives rise to a distinct pattern of discontinuity lines for increasing and decreasing applied magnetic fields, in sharp contrast to the invariable patterns reported for centrosymmetric pinning potentials. This observation is partially accounted for by the rectification effect, as demonstrated by finite-element modeling. At low temperatures, where magnetic field penetration is dominated by thermomagnetic instabilities, highly directional magnetic flux avalanches with a fingerlike shape are observed to propagate along the easy axis of the pinning potential. This morphology is reproduced by numerical simulations. Our findings demonstrate that anisotropic pinning landscapes and, in particular, ratchet potentials produce subtle modifications to the critical state field profile that are reflected in the distribution of discontinuity lines.

Abstract: We consider two possible mechanisms for single-vortex fluctuative entry/exit through the surface barrier in ultrathin superconducting disk-shaped nanoislands made of Pb and consisting of just a few monoatomic layers, which can be fabricated using modern techniques. We estimate tunneling probabilities and establish criteria for the crossover between these two mechanisms depending on magnetic field and system sizes. For the case of vortex entry, quantum tunneling dominates on the major part of the temperature/flux phase diagram. For the case of vortex exit, thermal activation turns out to be more probable. This nontrivial result is due to the subtle balance between the barrier height and width, which determine rates of the thermal activation and quantum tunneling, respectively.

Abstract: Hall probe magnetometry has been used to investigate the magnetization of individual cylindrically shaped Pb nanowires grown by electrocrystallization on a highly oriented pyrolytic graphite electrode. These measurements have been interpreted by comparison with three-dimensional Ginzburg-Landau (GL) calculations for nanowires with our sample parameters. We find that the measured superheating field and the critical field for surface superconductivity are strongly influenced by the temperature-dependent coherence length, ξ(T) and penetration depth λ(T) and their relationship to the nanowire diameter. As the temperature is increased toward Tc this drives a change in the superconductor-normal transition from first order irreversible to first order reversible and finally second order reversible. We find that the geometrical flux confinement in our type-I nanowires leads to the formation of a one-dimensional row of single-quantum vortices. While GL calculations show a quite uniform distribution of vortices in thin nanowires, clear vortex bunching is found as the diameter increases, suggesting a transition to a more classical type-I behavior. Subtle changes in minor magnetization loops also indicate that slightly different flux configurations can form with the same vorticity, which depend on the sample history.

Abstract: Using a particle-based model we examine the depinning motion of solitons in skyrmion chains in quasi -onedimensional (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) systems containing embedded 1D interfaces. The solitons take the form of a particle or hole in a commensurate chain of skyrmions. Under an applied drive, just above a critical depinning threshold, the soliton moves with a skyrmion Hall angle of zero. For higher drives, the entire chain depins, and in a 2D system we observe that both the solitons and chain move at zero skyrmion Hall angle and then transition to a finite skyrmion Hall angle as the drive increases. In a 2D system with a 1D interface that is at an angle to the driving direction, there can be a reversal of the sign of the skyrmion Hall angle from positive to negative. Our results suggest that solitons in skyrmion systems could be used as information carriers in racetrack geometries that would avoid the drawbacks of finite skyrmion Hall angles. The soliton states become mobile at significantly lower drives than the depinning transition of the skyrmion chains themselves.