Ferroelectricity Modulates Polaronic Coupling at Multiferroic Interfaces

Physics of the multiferroic interfaces is currently understood mostly within a phenomenological framework including screening of the polarization field and depolarizing charges. Largely unexplored still remains the band dependence of the interfacial charge modulation, as well as the associated changes of the electron-phonon interaction, coupling the charge and lattice degrees of freedom. Here, multiferroic heterostructures of the colossal-magnetoresistance manganite La1-xSrxMnO3 buried under ferroelectric BaTiO3 and PbZrxTi1-xO3 are explored using soft-X-ray angle-resolved photoemission. The experimental band dispersions from the buried La1-xSrxMnO3 identify coexisting two-dimensional hole and three-dimensional electron charge carriers. The ferroelectric polarization modulates their charge density, changing the band filling and orbital occupation in the interfacial region. Furthermore, these changes in the carrier density affect the coupling of the 2D holes and 3D electrons with the lattice which forms large Froelich polarons inherently reducing mobility of the charge carriers. We find that the fast dynamic response of electrons makes them much more efficient in screening of the electron-lattice interaction compared to the holes. Our k-resolved results on the orbital occupancy, band filling and electron-lattice interaction in multiferroic oxide heterostructures modulated by the ferroelectric polarization disclose most fundamental physics of these systems needed for further progress of beyond-CMOS ferro-functional electronics.

It is really time to retire laparoscopic gastric banding? Positive outcomes after long-term follow-up: the management is the key

After the initial widespread diffusion, laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) has been progressively abandoned and laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) has become the worldwide most adopted procedure. Nevertheless, recent reports raised concerns about the long-term weight regain after different bariatric techniques. Considering the large LAGB series recorded in our multicentric bariatric database, we analysed the anthropometric and surgical outcomes of obese patients underwent LAGB at a long-term follow-up, focusing on LAGB management. Between January 2008 to January 2018, demographics, anthropometric and post-operative data of obese patients undergone LAGB were retrospectively evaluated. To compare the postoperative outcomes, the cohort was divided in two groups according to the quantity of band filling (QBF): low band filling group (Group 1) with at most 3 ml of QBF, and patients in the high band filling group (Group 2) with at least 4 ml. 699 obese patients were considered in the analysis (351 in Group 1 and 348 in Group 2). Patients in Group 1 resulted significantly associated (p < 0.05) to higher % EWL and quality of life score (BAROS Score), 49.1 ± 11.3 vs 38.2 ± 14.2 and 5.9 ± 1.8 vs 3.8 ± 2.5, respectively. Moreover, patients with lower band filling (Group 1) complained less episodes of vomiting, epigastric pain and post-prandial reflux and significantly decreased slippage and migration rate (p < 0.001 for all parameters). LAGB is a safe and reversible procedure, whose efficacy is primarily related to correct postoperative handling. Low band filling and strict follow-up seem the success’ key of this technique, which deserves full consideration among bariatric procedures.

Breakdown of semiclassical description of thermoelectricity in near-magic angle twisted bilayer graphene

The planar assembly of twisted bilayer graphene (tBLG) hosts a multitude of interaction-driven phases when the relative rotation is close to the magic angle (θ = 1.1°). This includes correlation-induced ground states that reveal spontaneous symmetry breaking at low temperature, as well as the possibility of non-Fermi liquid (NFL) excitations. However, experimentally, the manifestation of NFL effects in transport properties of twisted bilayer graphene remains ambiguous. Here we report simultaneous measurements of electrical resistivity (ρ) and thermoelectric power (S) in tBLG for several twist angles between θ ≈ 1.0°-1.7°. We observe an emergent violation of the semiclassical Mott relation in the form of excess S close to half-filling for θ≈1.6° that vanishes for ≥ 2°. The excess S (≈2 μV/K at low temperatures T ≈10 K at θ≈1.6°) persists up to ≈ 40 K and is accompanied by metallic T-linear ρ with transport scattering rate (1/τ) of near-Planckian magnitude 1/τ ≈ k_BT/h_bar. Closer to θ_m, the excess S was also observed for fractional band-filling (ν≈ 0.5). The combination of non-trivial electrical transport and violation of Mott relation provides compelling evidence of NFL physics intrinsic to tBLG.

Photo-acoustic response and optical features of 2D-TlGaSe2 and GaAs semiconductors

The paper focuses on investigation of the acoustic-optical properties of 2D-TlGaSe2 and GaAs semiconductors using laser pulses. We present the photo-darkening experiments performed by using CW light in spectral ranges below the band gap of TlGaSe2. The data provides evidence that photo-acoustic signals (PAS) for the above band gap are significantly stronger and linear in 2D-TlGaSe2 while they are distorted by nonlinear processes in isotropic GaAs. The comparison discloses characteristic parameters of TlGaSe2, namely a high factor and a negative sign in the refraction coefficient with pressure, a low absorption coefficient and absence of band filling; all guarantee stabile energy conversion by thermoelastic deformation mechanism. Below the band gap range, we found a new kind of PAS in TlGaSe2 on near surfaces. Likewise, we demonstrate that in such spectral range the giant Stark effect in TlGaSe2 is created by focused CW beams. The Stark effect produces local optical darkening which can provide explosion at extreme light power. Likely, both effects could be related to the planar stacking faults in 2D-TlGaSe2, which produce a spontaneous charge separation on layers.

Importance of $${{d}}_{{{xy}}}$$ orbital and electron correlation in iron-based superconductors revealed by phase diagram for 1111-system

The structural flexibility at three substitution sites in LaFeAsO enabled investigation of the relation between superconductivity and structural parameters over a wide range of crystal compositions. Substitutions of Nd for La, Sb or P for As, and F or H for O were performed. All these substitutions modify the local structural parameters, while the F/H-substitution also changes band filling. It was found that the superconducting transition temperature $$T_{\text{c}}$$ T c is strongly affected by the pnictogen height $$h_{Pn}$$ h Pn from the Fe-plane that controls the electron correlation strength and the size of the $$d_{xy}$$ d xy hole Fermi surface (FS). With increasing $$h_{Pn}$$ h Pn , weak coupling BCS superconductivity switches to the strong coupling non-BCS one where electron correlations and the $$d_{xy}$$ d xy hole FS may be important.

Three dimensional band-filling control of complex oxides triggered by interfacial electron transfer

The d-band-filling of transition metals in complex oxides plays an essential role in determining their structural, electronic and magnetic properties. Traditionally, at the oxide heterointerface, band-filling control has been achieved via electrostatic modification in the structure of field-effect transistors or electron transfer, which is limited to the quasi-two-dimension at the interface. Here we report a three-dimensional (3D) band-filling control by changing the local lattice coordination in a designed oxide heterostructure. At the LaCoO3/LaTiO3 heterointerface, due to the Fermi level mismatch, electrons transfer from LaTiO3 to LaCoO3. This triggers destabilisation of the CoO6 octahedrons, i.e. the formation of lattice configurations with a reduced Co valence. The associated oxygen migration results in the 3D topotactic phase transition of LaCoO3. Tuned by the thickness of LaTiO3, different crystalline phases and band-fillings of Co occur, leading to the emergence of different magnetic ground states.

Effects of Organic Material on Magnetoresistance in Electron-doped Double Perovskite

The Curie temperature of electron-doped Sr2FeMoO6 can be optimized significantly due to the band-filling effect, but accompanying an almost absent low-field magnetoresistance (LFMR), which is unfavorable to applications in the magnetoresistive devices operated at room-temperature. Our previous works confirmed that, a remarkable enhanced LFMR was observed in Sr2FeMoO6 by modifying the grain boundary with insulating organic small molecules (glycerin, CH2OHCHOHCH2OH). However, in this work, modifying the grain boundary strength of the La0.5Sr1.5FeMoO6 with the insulating organic macromolecules (oleic acid, CH3(CH2)7CH=CH(CH2)7COOH) or small molecules (glycerin), both of them have negligible functions on the magnetoresistance behavior in La0.5Sr1.5FeMoO6. Contrary to the glycerin-modified Sr2FeMoO6, Sr2FeMoO6/oleic acid composites don’t exhibit an obviously increased magnetoresistance property. Based on the above experimental results and the related works, it is proposed that, maintaining high spin polarization of the carriers at the Fermi level and improving the tunneling process across the grain boundary by using the suitable organic materials are decisive factors for optimizing the magnetoresistance behavior in the similar electron-doped double perovskites.