Magnetic Memory Effects in BaFe(AsP) Superconducting Single Crystal.

Among many iron-based superconductors, isovalently substituted BaFe(AsP) displays, for ≈ 0.3, apart from the quite usual Second Magnetization Peak (SMP) in the field dependence of the critical current density, an unusual peak effect in the temperature dependence of the critical current density in the constant field, which is related to the rhombic-to-square (RST) structural transition of the Bragg vortex glass (BVG). By using multi-harmonic AC susceptibility investigations in three different cooling regimes-field cooling, zero-field cooling, and field cooling with measurements during warming up-we have discovered the existence of a temperature region in which there is a pronounced magnetic memory effect, which we attributed to the direction of the structural transition.

Unveiling intrinsic material and extrinsic pinning dimensionality in superconductors: Why Fe(Se,Te) is able to mimic YBCO.

Discovery of iron-based superconductors paved the way to a competitor of high-temperature superconductors, easier to produce, better performing in high fields, and promising to be less expensive. Critical parameters are investigated by resistivity measurements as a function of temperature, field, and angle (). This work presents a deep analysis of - phase diagram of PLD-processed Fe(Se,Te) superconducting films, thus revealing material and pinning anisotropy at once.

Strong Magneto-Optical Kerr Effects in Ni-Doped ZnO Nanolaminate Structures Obtained by Atomic Layer Deposition.

The magneto-optical (MO) Kerr effects for ZnO and ZnO:Ni-doped nanolaminate structures prepared using atomic layer deposition (ALD) have been investigated. The chemical composition and corresponding structural and morphological properties were studied using XRD and XPS and compared for both nanostructures. The 2D array gradient maps of microscale variations of the Kerr angle polarization rotation were acquired by means of MO Kerr microscopy.

Magnetic Analysis of MgFe Hydrotalcites as Powder and Dispersed in Thin Films within a Keratin Matrix.

Hydrotalcites (HTlcs) are a class of nanostructured layered materials that may be employed in a variety of applications, from green to bio technologies. In this paper, we report an investigation on HTlcs made of Mg and Fe, recently employed to improve the growth in vitro of osteoblasts within a keratin sponge. We carried out an analysis of powder materials and of HTlcs dispersed in keratin and spin-coated on a Si/SiO substrate at different temperatures.

Complex AC Magnetic Susceptibility as a Tool for Exploring Nonlinear Magnetic Phenomena and Pinning Properties in Superconductors.

The versatile AC magnetic susceptibility technique offers a detailed insight into the complex electrodynamic phenomena in superconductors. In the present study, we outline the key effects related to the temperature, AC field amplitude and frequency variations of the fundamental and harmonic components for an investigation of the vortex dynamics in a flux-grown FeSe crystal. By means of higher harmonic (nonlinear) analysis, we have explored certain atypical, asymmetric features in the AC magnetic response.

The Effect of a DC Magnetic Field on the AC Magnetic Properties of Oleic Acid-Coated FeO Nanoparticles.

The AC magnetic properties of a sample of FeO nanoparticles coated with oleic acid have been investigated with the help of AC susceptibility measurements. In particular, several DC magnetic fields have been superimposed on the AC field, and their effect on the magnetic response of the sample has been analysed. The results show the presence of a double peak structure in the imaginary component of the complex AC susceptibility measured as a function of the temperature.

Magneto-Optical and Muliferroic Properties of Transition-Metal (Fe, Co, or Ni)-Doped ZnO Layers Deposited by ALD.

ZnO doped with transition metals (Co, Fe, or Ni) that have non-compensated electron spins attracts particular interest as it can induce various magnetic phenomena and behaviors. The advanced atomic layer deposition (ALD) technique makes it possible to obtain very thin layers of doped ZnO with controllable thicknesses and compositions that are compatible with the main microelectronic technologies, which further boosts the interest. The present study provides an extended analysis of the magneto-optical MO Kerr effect and the dielectric properties of (Co, Fe, or Ni)-doped ZnO films prepared by ALD.

Pinning Potential of the Self-Assembled Artificial Pinning Centers in Nanostructured YBaCuO Superconducting Films.

For high-field power applications of high-temperature superconductors, it became obvious in recent years that nano-engineered artificial pinning centers are needed for increasing the critical current and pinning potential. As opposed to the artificial pinning centers obtained by irradiation with various particles, which is a quite expensive approach, we have studied superconducting samples having self-assembled defects, created during the sample fabrication, that act as effective pinning centers. We introduced a simple, straight-forward method of estimating the frequency-dependent critical current density by using frequency-dependent AC susceptibility measurements, in fixed temperatures and DC magnetic fields, from the positions of the maxima in the dependence of the out-of-phase susceptibility on the amplitude of AC excitation magnetic field.

Magnetic Instabilities in the Quasi-One-Dimensional KCrAs Material with Twisted Triangular Tubes.

The magnetic response of a frustrated KCrAs sample having triangular arrays of twisted tubes has been studied by means of dc magnetization measurements as a function of the magnetic field () at different temperatures ranging from 5 K up to 300 K. Looking at the magnetic hysteresis loops (), a diamagnetic behavior of the sample was inferred at temperatures higher than 60 K, whereas at lower temperatures the sample showed a hysteresis loop compatible with the presence of ferrimagnetism. Moreover, spike-like magnetization jumps, both positive and negative, were observed in a narrow range of the magnetic field around 800 Oe, regardless of the temperature considered and they were compared with the theoretical predictions on frustrated systems.

Critical Current and Pinning Features of a CaKFeAs Polycrystalline Sample.

We analyze the magnetic behavior of a CaKFe4As4 polycrystalline sample fabricated by a mechanochemically assisted synthesis route. By means of DC magnetization (M) measurements as a function of the temperature (T) and DC magnetic field (H) we study its critical parameters and pinning features. The critical temperature T has been evaluated by M(T) curves performed in Zero Field Cooling-Field Cooling conditions.

Effective Magnetic Field Dependence of the Flux Pinning Energy in FeSeTe Superconductor.

The role of a layered structure in superconducting pinning properties is still at a debate. The effects of the vortex shape, which can assume for example a staircase form, could influence the interplay with extrinsic pinning coming from the specific defects of the material, thus inducing an effective magnetic field dependence. To enlighten this role, we analysed the angular dependence of flux pinning energy (,) as a function of magnetic field in FeSeTe thin film by considering the field components along the -plane of the crystal structure and the -axis direction.

High Pinning Force Values of a Fe(Se, Te) Single Crystal Presenting a Second Magnetization Peak Phenomenon.

The magnetization M of an Fe(Se, Te) single crystal has been measured as a function of temperature T and dc magnetic field H. The sample properties have been analyzed in the case of a magnetic field parallel to its largest face H||ab. From the M(T) measurement, the T of the sample and a magnetic background have been revealed.

Pathways to Green Perspectives: Production and Characterization of Polylactide (PLA) Nanocomposites Filled with Superparamagnetic Magnetite Nanoparticles.

In the category of biopolymers, polylactide or polylactic acid (PLA) is one of the most promising candidates considered for future developments, as it is not only biodegradable under industrial composting conditions, but it is produced from renewable natural resources. The modification of PLA through the addition of nanofillers is considered as a modern approach to improve its main characteristic features (mechanical, thermal, barrier, etc.) and to obtain specific end-use properties.

Vortex lattice instability at the nanoscale in a parallel magnetic field.

In superconducting materials a dynamical rearrangement of the vortex lattice occurs by forcing vortices at high velocities, until the system can become unstable. This phenomenon is known as vortex lattice instability, in which a sudden transition drives the superconducting system abruptly to the normal state. We present an experimental study on submicron bridges of NbN and NbTiN ultra-thin films with a thickness of few nanometers.