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.

Moiré Physics of One-Dimensional Related Systems and Their Measurement

Currently, the magic-angle graphene has given a tremendous boost to the study of unconventional superconductors. On the other hand, there were still limited experimental studies on superconductivity in one-dimensional (1D) carbon nanotube systems. The study of experimental systems in demonstrating superconductivity was therefore scientifically important. In this review, we have shown strategies toward demonstrating the superconductivity for the single double-wall carbon nanotube (DWCNT). In general, there have been two directions to analyse superconducting properties of one-dimensional materials: (i) strong correlated states (ii) anomalous electron transport operations. We introduced the transmission electron microscope (TEM) and Rayleigh scattering spectroscopy to describe the strong correlation. The theoretical foundations of moiré physics have also been described. Given all the methods, we concluded that the most intuitive way to demonstrate the superconductivity of single double-walled carbon nanotubes is the critical temperature. The sharp drop of the resistance could be directly observed, and the Tc could be obtained from the electrical transport data. In the last section, we also summarized the challenges that need to be addressed in future superconductivity studies of 1D carbon nanotubes.

Impact of Silica Additions on the Phase Composition and Electrical Transport Properties of Ruddlesden-Popper La2NiO4+δ Mixed Conducting Ceramics

The present work explores the possibility of incorporation of silicon into the crystal structure of Ruddlesden-Popper La2NiO4+δ mixed conducting ceramics with the aim to improve the chemical compatibility with lanthanum silicate-based solid electrolytes. Ceramics with the nominal composition La2Ni1−ySiyO4+δ (y = 0, 0.02 and 0.05) were prepared by the glycine nitrate combustion technique and sintered at 1450 °C. While minor changes in the lattice parameters of the tetragonal K2NiF4-type lattice may suggest incorporation of a small fraction of Si into the Ni sublattice, combined XRD and SEM/EDS studies indicate that this fraction is very limited (≪2 at.%, if any). Instead, additions of silica result in segregation of apatite-type La10−xSi6O26+δ and La2O3 secondary phases as confirmed experimentally and supported by the static lattice simulations. Both total electrical conductivity and oxygen-ionic transport in La2NiO4+δ ceramics are suppressed by silica additions. The preferential reactivity of silica with lanthanum oxide opens a possibility to improve the compatibility between lanthanum silicate-based solid electrolytes and La2NiO4+δ-based electrodes by appropriate surface modifications. The promising potential of this approach is supported by preliminary tests of electrodes infiltrated with lanthanum oxide.

The Transport Properties of Quasi–One-Dimensional Ba3Co2O6(CO3)0.7

We have performed combined elastic neutron diffuse, electrical transport, specific heat, and thermal conductivity measurements on the quasi–one-dimensional Ba3Co2O6(CO3)0.7 single crystal to characterize its transport properties. A modulated superstructure of polyatomic CO32− is formed, which not only interferes the electronic properties of this compound, but also reduces the thermal conductivity along the c-axis. Furthermore, a large magnetic entropy is observed to be contributed to the heat conduction. Our investigations reveal the influence of both structural and magnetic effects on its transport properties and suggest a theoretical improvement on the thermoelectric materials by building up superlattice with conducting ionic group.