Recent developments on the magnetic and electrical transport properties of FeRh- and Rh-based heterostructures

It is fascinating how the binary alloy FeRh has been the subject of a vast number of studies almost solely for a single-phase transition. This is, however, reasonable, considering how various degrees of freedom are intertwined around this phase transition. Furthermore, the tunability of this phase transition—the large response to tuning parameters, such as electric field and strain—endows FeRh huge potential in applications. Compared to the bulk counterpart, FeRh in the thin-film form is superior in many aspects: Materials in thin-film form are often more technologically relevant in the first place; in addition, the substrates add extra dimensions to the tunability, especially when the substrate itself is multiferroic. Here we review recent developments on the magnetic and transport properties of heterostructures based on FeRh and its end-member Rh, with the latter providing a new route to exploiting spin-orbit interactions in functional spintronic heterostructures other than the more often employed 5d metals. The methods utilized in the investigation of the physical properties in these systems, and the design principles employed in the engineering thereof may conceivably be extended to similar phase transitions to other magnetic materials.

Thin Film Stabilization of Different VO2 Polymorphs

In recent years, VO2 has emerged as a popular candidate among the scientific community across the globe owing to its unique technological and fundamental aspects. VO2 can exist in several polymorphs (such as: A, B, C, D, M1, M2, M3, P, R and T) which offer a broad spectrum of functionalities suitable for numerous potential applications likewise smart windows, switching devices, memory materials, battery materials and so on. Each phase of VO2 has specific physical and chemical properties. The device realization based on specific functionality call for stabilization of good quality single phase VO2 thin films of desired polymorphs. Hence, the control on the growth of different VO2 polymorphs in thin film form is very crucial. Different polymorphs of VO2 can be stabilized by selecting the growth route, growth parameters and type of substrate etc. In this chapter, we present an overview of stabilization of the different phases of VO2 in the thin film form and the identification of these phases mainly by X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy techniques.

Why the thin film form of a photocatalyst is better than the particulate form for direct solar-to-hydrogen conversion: a poor man's approach

Maximizing light absorption throughout the thin film and effective charge carrier utilization helped improve H2 yield by an order of magnitude.