Robust superconductivity and the suppression of charge-density wave in the quasi-skutteruditesCa3(Ir1-xRhx)4Sn13single crystals at ambient pressure.

Single crystals of the quasi-skutterudite compounds Ca(IrRh)Sn(3-4-13) were synthesized by flux growth and characterized by x-ray diffraction, energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, magnetization, resistivity, and radio frequency magnetic susceptibility techniques. The coexistence and competition between the charge density wave (CDW) and superconductivity was studied by varying the Rh/Ir ratio. The superconducting transition temperature,Tc, varies from 7 K in pure Ir ( = 0) to 8.

Ion-Selective Scattering Studied Using the Variable-Energy Electron Irradiation in the BaKFeAs Superconductor.

Low-temperature variable-energy electron irradiation was used to induce non-magnetic disorder in a single crystal of a hole-doped iron-based superconductor, Ba1-xKxFe2As2, = 0.80. To avoid systematic errors, the beam energy was adjusted non-consequently for five values between 1.

High-Frequency ac Susceptibility of Iron-Based Superconductors.

A microwave technique suitable for investigating the AC magnetic susceptibility of small samples in the GHz frequency range is presented. The method-which is based on the use of a coplanar waveguide resonator, within the resonator perturbation approach-allows one to obtain the absolute value of the complex susceptibility, from which the penetration depth and the superfluid density can be determined. We report on the characterization of several iron-based superconducting systems, belonging to the 11, 122, 1144, and 12442 families.

Topological magnetic hysteresis in single crystals of CeAgSbferromagnet.

Closed-topology magnetic domains are usually observed in thin films and in an applied magnetic field. Here we report the observation of rectangular cross-section tubular ferromagnetic domains in thick single crystals of CeAgSbin zero applied field. Relatively low exchange energy, small net magnetic moment, and anisotropic in-plane crystal electric fields lower the domain wall energy and allow for the formation of the closed-topology patterns.

Effect of Controlled Artificial Disorder on the Magnetic Properties of EuFe(AsP) Ferromagnetic Superconductor.

Static (DC) and dynamic (AC, at 14 MHz and 8 GHz) magnetic susceptibilities of single crystals of a ferromagnetic superconductor, EuFe2(As1-xPx)2 ( = 0.23), were measured in pristine state and after different doses of 2.5 MeV electron or 3.

VI -a New Layered Ferromagnetic Semiconductor.

2D materials are promising candidates for next-generation electronic devices. In this regime, insulating 2D ferromagnets, which remain rare, are of special importance due to their potential for enabling new device architectures. Here the discovery of ferromagnetism is reported in a layered van der Waals semiconductor, VI , which is based on honeycomb vanadium layers separated by an iodine-iodine van der Waals gap.

Beyond triplet: Unconventional superconductivity in a spin-3/2 topological semimetal.

In all known fermionic superfluids, Cooper pairs are composed of spin-1/2 quasi-particles that pair to form either spin-singlet or spin-triplet bound states. The "spin" of a Bloch electron, however, is fixed by the symmetries of the crystal and the atomic orbitals from which it is derived and, in some cases, can behave as if it were a spin-3/2 particle. The superconducting state of such a system allows pairing beyond spin-triplet, with higher spin quasi-particles combining to form quintet or septet pairs.

Energy gap evolution across the superconductivity dome in single crystals of (Ba K )FeAs.

The mechanism of unconventional superconductivity in iron-based superconductors (IBSs) is one of the most intriguing questions in current materials research. Among non-oxide IBSs, (Ba K )FeAs has been intensively studied because of its high superconducting transition temperature and fascinating evolution of the superconducting gap structure from being fully isotropic at optimal doping ( ≈ 0.4) to becoming nodal at > 0.

Physical properties of CeGe2-x (x=0.24) single crystals.

We present data on the anisotropic magnetic properties, heat capacity and transport properties of CeGe2-x (x=0.24) single crystals. The electronic coefficient of the heat capacity, γ∼110 mJ mol(-1) K(-2), is enhanced; three magnetic transitions, with critical temperatures of ≈7, ≈5 and ≈4 K are observed in thermodynamic and transport measurements.

Self-assembly and biphasic iron-binding characteristics of Mms6, a bacterial protein that promotes the formation of superparamagnetic magnetite nanoparticles of uniform size and shape.

Highly ordered mineralized structures created by living organisms are often hierarchical in structure with fundamental structural elements at nanometer scales. Proteins have been found responsible for forming many of these structures, but the mechanisms by which these biomineralization proteins function are generally poorly understood. To better understand its role in biomineralization, the magnetotactic bacterial protein, Mms6, which promotes the formation in vitro of superparamagnetic magnetite nanoparticles of uniform size and shape, was studied for its structure and function.

Chromium chains as polydentate fluoride ligands for lanthanides.

Hexametallic chromium(III) chains can act as fluoride donor ligands to lanthanide ions giving {(Cr(6))Ln(x)}(n) complexes; preliminary spectroscopic studies are reported.

Polyoxotungstates now also with pentagonal units: supramolecular chemistry and tuning of magnetic exchange in {(M)M5}12V30 Keplerates (M = Mo, W).

The deliberate synthesis of the Keplerate [K(20) subset{(W)W(5)O(21)(SO(4))}(12)(VO)(30)(SO(4))(H(2)O)(63)](18-) with 20 pores all closed by K(+) in a supramolecular fashion proves that it is possible to follow new routes in polyoxotungstate chemistry based on pentagonal {(W)W(5)}-type units and to tune magnetic exchange couplings in {(M)M(5)}(12)M'(30) type Keplerates.

Cobalt ferrite nanocrystals: out-performing magnetotactic bacteria.

Magnetotactic bacteria produce exquisitely ordered chains of uniform magnetite (Fe(3)O(4)) nanocrystals, and the use of the bacterial mms6 protein allows for the shape-selective synthesis of Fe(3)O(4) nanocrystals. Cobalt ferrite (CoFe(2)O(4)) nanoparticles, on the other hand, are not known to occur in living organisms. Here we report on the use of the recombinant mms6 protein in a templated synthesis of CoFe(2)O(4) nanocrystals in vitro.

Equilibrium topology of the intermediate state in type-I superconductors of different shapes.

A high-resolution magneto-optical technique was used to analyze flux patterns in the intermediate state of bulk Pb samples of various shapes - cones, hemispheres, and discs. Combined with the measurements of macroscopic magnetization, these results allowed studying the effect of bulk pinning and geometric barrier on the equilibrium structure of the intermediate state. Zero-bulk pinning discs and slabs show hysteretic behavior due to topological hysteresis - flux tubes on penetration and lamellae on flux exit.

Crystal growth and magnetic properties of lanthanide-containing osmium double perovskites, Ln2NaOsO6 (Ln = La, Pr, Nd).

A series of double perovskite oxides, Ln(2)NaOsO(6) (Ln = La, Pr, Nd), has been prepared as single crystals from acidic molten NaOH. All three oxides crystallize in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/n (Glazer tilt system #10, a(-)a(-)b(+)), forming a 1:1 ordered rock salt lattice of the Na(+) and Os(5+) cations. Magnetic susceptibility measurements show evidence of antiferromagnetic correlations in La(2)NaOsO(6) and of a spin-flop transition from an antiferromagnetic to ferromagnetic-like state in both Pr(2)NaOsO(6) and Nd(2)NaOsO(6).

High velocity interparticle collisions driven by ultrasound.

Ultrasonic irradiation of slurries produces high velocity impacts between solid metal particles that are sufficient to cause interparticle melting. Sonication of 5 mum Zn powder as a slurry in alkanes, for example, produces dense agglomerates 50 mum in diameter consisting of approximately 1000 fused particles. Particle size was found to be the most influential parameter in inducing local melting during interparticle collisions.