Quasi-particle interference of the van Hove singularity in Sr2RuO4

The single-layered ruthenate Sr2RuO4 is one of the most enigmatic unconventional superconductors. While for many years it was thought to be the best candidate for a chiral p-wave superconducting ground state, desirable for topological quantum computations, recent experiments suggest a singlet state, ruling out the original p-wave scenario. The superconductivity as well as the properties of the multi-layered compounds of the ruthenate perovskites are strongly influenced by a van Hove singularity in proximity of the Fermi energy. Tiny structural distortions move the van Hove singularity across the Fermi energy with dramatic consequences for the physical properties. Here, we determine the electronic structure of the van Hove singularity in the surface layer of Sr2RuO4 by quasi-particle interference imaging. We trace its dispersion and demonstrate from a model calculation accounting for the full vacuum overlap of the wave functions that its detection is facilitated through the octahedral rotations in the surface layer.

Phase separation near the charge neutrality point in FeSe1-xTex crystals with x < 0.15

Our study of FeSe$ _ {1-x}$Te$ _ {x}$ crystals with x $<$ 0.15 shows that the phase separation in these compositions occurs into phases with a different stoichiometry of iron. This phase separation may indicate structural instability of the iron plane in the studied range of compositions. We tentatively propose an explanation of the structural instability of the iron plane in the studied layered compounds in terms of the possible change in the bond polarity and the peculiarity of the direct $d-d$ exchange in the iron plane in the framework of the basic phenomenological description such as the Bethe-Slater curve. With this approach, when the distance between iron atoms is close to the value at which the sign of the magnetic exchange for some $d$ orbitals changes, structural and electronic instability can occur. Anomalies in the crystal field near the point of charge neutrality can also be a significant component of this instability.

Exploring the structures, stability, and light absorption properties of three thiostannates synthesised at similar conditions

We present the synthesis, crystal structures and optical properties of three thiostannates prepared by using 1-(2-aminoethyl)piperazine (AEPz) as structure directing agent. Two of the thiostannates are layered materials (AEPz-SnS-1 and AEPz:EtOH-SnS-1) consisting of [Sn3S72−]n sheets with organic cations located in-between. The third compound is a molecular thiostannate (Sn2S6(AEPzH2)2) composed of dimeric Sn2S64− and AEPzH22+. In preparation of the layered compounds, the use of AEPz as the only solvent results in AEPz-SnS-1 with regular hexagonal pores and crystallographically disordered organic cations. In contrast, a mixture of AEPz and absolute ethanol gives AEPz:EtOH-SnS-1 with distorted hexagonal pores and ordered cations between the layers. The influence of cation order on the light absorption properties and the material thermal stability was investigated through thermal treatment of the layered compounds up to 200 °C. Both compounds show colour changes when heated, but cation order results in larger thermal stability. For AEPz-SnS-1, a decreased inter-layer distance and substantial loss of organic matter was observed when heated. However, pair distribution function analysis reveals that the local in-layer thiostannate structure of AEPz-SnS-1 remains unchanged. In contrast, AEPz:EtOH-SnS-1 does not undergo noticeable structural changes by the thermal treatment. All materials are optical semiconductors with band gaps of 3.0–3.1 eV.

Photocatalytic Activity of n-Alkylamine and n-Alkoxy Derivatives of Layered Perovskite-like Titanates H2Ln2Ti3O10 (Ln = La, Nd) in the Reaction of Hydrogen Production From an Aqueous Solution of Methanol

Two series of hybrid inorganic-organic derivatives, obtained via the modification of protonated Ruddlesden–Popper phases H2Ln2Ti3O10 (Ln = La, Nd) with intercalated n-alkylamines and grafted n-alkoxy groups, have been systematically investigated in relation to photocatalytic hydrogen production from a model of 1 mol % aqueous solution of methanol for the first time. Photocatalytic measurements were performed both for bare samples and for their composites with Pt nanoparticles as a cocatalyst using an advanced scheme, including dark stages, monitoring of the volume concentration of the sample in the reaction suspension during the experiment, shifts of its pH and possible exfoliation of layered compounds into nanolayers. It was found that the incorporation of organic components into the interlayer space of the titanates increases their photocatalytic activity up to 117 times compared with that of the initial compounds. Additional platinization of the hybrid samples’ surface allowed for achieving apparent quantum efficiency of hydrogen evolution of more than 40%. It was established that the photocatalytic activity of the hybrid samples correlates with the hydration degree of their interlayer space, which is considered a separate reaction zone in photocatalysis, and that hydrogen indeed generates from the aqueous methanol solution rather than from organic components of the derivatives.

Toward Controllable Quantum Transports and Novel Magnetic States in Eu1–xSrxMnSb2

Magnetic semimetals carry a great promise for potential applications in novel spintronic devices. Nevertheless, it is a challenging topic to realize the tunable topological states by the magnetism in a controllable way. Here, we report novel magnetic states and a tunability of the topological semimetallic states via controlling the Eu spin reorientation in Eu1-xSrxMnSb2. Increasing the Sr concentration in this system induces a surprising reorientation of noncollinear Eu spins to the Mn moment’s direction and an appearance of topological semimetallic behavior. The Eu spin reorientations to distinct collinear antiferromagnetic orders are also driven by the temperature/magnetic field, which are coupled to transport properties of the relativistic fermions generated the 2D Sb layers. These results suggest nonmagnetic element doping to the rare-earth element site may be an effective strategy to generate topological electronic states and new magnetic states in layered compounds involving spatially separated rare-earth and transition metal layers.

Synthesis of n-Alkoxy Derivatives of Layered Perovskite-Like Niobate HCa2Nb3O10 and Study of Their Photocatalytic Activity for Hydrogen Production from an Aqueous Solution of Methanol

A series of hybrid inorganic–organic niobates HCa2Nb3O10×ROH, containing n-alkoxy groups of primary alcohols (R = Me, Et, Pr, Bu, Hx, and Dc) grafted in the interlayer space, has been studied for the first time in relation to photocatalytic hydrogen generation from a model 1 mol % aqueous solution of methanol under ultraviolet irradiation. Photocatalytic activity was measured both for bare samples and for their composites with Pt nanoparticles as a cocatalyst. The advanced measurement scheme allowed monitoring the volume concentration of a sample in a suspension during the experiment, its pH, and possible exfoliation of layered compounds into nanolayers. In the series of n-alkoxy derivatives, the maximum rate of hydrogen evolution was achieved over a Pt-loaded ethoxy derivative HCa2Nb3O10×EtOH/Pt. Its apparent quantum efficiency of 20.6% in the 220–350 nm range was found not to be caused by changes in the light absorption region or specific surface area upon ethanol grafting. Moreover, the amounts of hydrogen released during the measurements significantly exceeded those of interlayer organic components, indicating that hydrogen is generated from the reaction solution rather than from the hybrid material.

Size- and Temperature-control Optical Direct/indirect Band Tuning in Layered Compounds: Band Gap Engineering

The X-ray diffraction (XRD) is studied in thermally evaporated cadmium iodide (CdI2) thin films with various thicknesses. The grain size, calculated from the XRD, is found to increase with increasing the thickness of the film, while the reflectivity and refractive index decease with increasing the wavelength of the exciting light. The optical absorption spectra show both allowed direct and indirect interband transitions across a fundamental gap in CdI2. It is found that both indirect and direct band gap (Eg) decrease with increasing the thickness of the film and that the indirect Eg is lower than the direct Eg by an amount of about 0.7 eV. The direct Eg is also decreased with increasing both the grain size and temperature. However, the temperature dependence of Eg follows the Varshni relation. Our results highlight the possibility of engineering or tuning the Eg of CdI2 by controlling the thickness of the film, grain size as well as temperature.