Observation of Cu Spin Fluctuations in High-Tc Cuprate Superconductor Nanoparticles Investigated by Muon Spin Relaxation

The nano-size effects of high-Tc cuprate superconductor La2−xSrxCuO4 with x = 0.20 are investigated using X-ray diffractometry, Transmission electron microscopy, and muon-spin relaxation (μSR). It is investigated whether an increase in the bond distance of Cu and O atoms in the conducting layer compared to those of the bulk state might affect its physical and magnetic properties. The μSR measurements revealed the slowing down of Cu spin fluctuations in La2−xSrxCuO4 nanoparticles, indicating the development of a magnetic correlation at low temperatures. The magnetic correlation strengthens as the particle size reduces. This significantly differs from those observed in the bulk form, which show a superconducting state below Tc. It is indicated that reducing the particle size of La2−xSrxCuO4 down to nanometer size causes the appearance of magnetism. The magnetism enhances with decreasing particle size.

Stoichiometrically driven disorder and local diffusion in NMC cathodes

Neutron powder diffraction has uncovered major stoichiometry-driven structural differences in NMC cathodes otherwise obscured in lab-based X-ray powder diffraction. The atomic scale Li diffusion has also been probed by muon spin relaxation.

Na-mobility in P2-Na0.5MgxNi0.17-xMn0.83O2 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.07) from electrochemical and muon-spin relaxation studies

Sodium transition metal oxides with a layered structure are one of the most widely studied cathode materials for a Na+-ion battery. Since the mobility of Na+ in such cathode materials...