Publications by authors named "Thomas Blon"

As the size of magnetic devices continuously decreases, the creation of three-dimensional nanomagnets and the understanding of their magnetic configurations become increasingly important for modern applications. Here, by progressive nucleation during epitaxial nanoelectrodeposition, we synthesize single-crystal iron nanocuboids with sizes ranging 10 to 200 nm on one sample. The size-dependent magnetic configurations of these nanocuboids are studied by quantitative magnetic force microscopy and electron holography.

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  • Researchers have successfully created a new form of germanium (ST12-Ge) in the shape of nanowires, which could lead to innovative applications due to its unique properties.
  • The nanowires were produced using a method involving supercritical toluene, high temperatures, and pressure, resulting in 1D structures with a very slim diameter.
  • The characteristics and quality of these nanowires were confirmed through various advanced techniques, revealing that they enhance light emission and have favorable bandgap properties.
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  • Researchers developed single crystalline FeCo nanostars using a straightforward organometallic method, which allowed for direct synthesis without needing a complicated seed-mediated growth process.* -
  • The nanostars are made up of 8 tetrahedrons and showcase high magnetization levels similar to bulk materials, measured at 235 A·m·kg.* -
  • Advanced imaging techniques revealed complex 3D spin configurations influenced by both dipolar and exchange interactions, highlighting how the unique shape of these nanostars can significantly alter their magnetic properties.*
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  • The integration of tiny magnetic materials into circuits is crucial for creating portable devices used in various fields like telecommunications and biomedical applications, but it's challenging to achieve.
  • This study presents a method for fabricating and directly integrating nanostructured magnetic materials onto silicon substrates, producing high-performance magnets.
  • The successful demonstration of using these magnets to control a micro-electromechanical system shows their potential as effective magnetic materials in portable technology.
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  • - The study highlights the significance of molecular polarizability in charge transport for molecular electronics, alongside known factors like size and charge.
  • - Researchers synthesized platinum nanoparticle self-assemblies with polyoxometalates, adjusting the POM's charge while maintaining constant size, to explore their impact on charge transport.
  • - Conductive AFM measurements revealed that as the dielectric constant of the POMs increased, the Coulomb blockade decreased, indicating that charge transport in these junctions is influenced by variations in polarizability.
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  • * This study shows that the degree of functionalization of CNTs can be controlled to tune the magnetic properties of a hybrid complex made with a rare-earth-based molecular magnet (Gd-DTPA).
  • * By using various analytical techniques, researchers found that increasing the amount of Gd-DTPA attached to CNTs alters the intrinsic magnetic behavior of the nanotubes, suggesting potential for creating advanced spintronic materials.
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  • Researchers need nanocrystals with specific shapes for better catalysts, but traditional methods don’t allow for shape control.
  • This study successfully synthesized concave platinum nanocubes with {110} facets and showed how they grow on a Pt(111) support, creating detailed nanostructured surfaces.
  • By carefully selecting the support's crystallographic orientation, scientists can selectively immobilize desired nanostructures from a mixed solution, leading to new possibilities in nanocrystal development.
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  • This study focuses on the electrical and structural characterization of nano-sized platinum (Pt) tribranches to assess their applications in microelectronics.
  • The researchers found that these Pt nanostars, created from HPtCl salt reduction in oleylamine, exhibit excellent crystalline structure and metallic properties even with mild synthesis conditions.
  • The devices made from these nanostars can handle current densities over 200 MA/cm² and function effectively as compact frequency multiplexers in a non-ohmic context.
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  • * Cobalt nanorods were created by reducing a Co(II) precursor in the presence of specific chemicals, and additional studies were conducted to observe the growth process over time.
  • * Results indicate that the formation involves a combination of fast and slow processes, leading to organized structures known as mesocrystals, with orderly alignment occurring early in the growth phase.
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  • The study investigates the spin configurations around the transition between single-domain and vortex states in isolated magnetic nanoparticles, specifically focusing on Fe single-crystalline nanocubes.
  • By using methods like chemical synthesis, electron holography, and micromagnetic simulations, researchers created a phase diagram that maps these magnetic configurations based on size.
  • They found that Fe nanocubes between 25 to 27 nm show a transition between single-domain and vortex states, and for the first time, they identified an intermediate spin configuration known as an ⟨111⟩ vortex.
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Chemical methods offer the possibility to synthesize a large panel of nanostructures of various materials with promising properties. One of the main limitations to a mass market development of nanostructure based devices is the integration at a moderate cost of nano-objects into smart architectures. Here we develop a general approach by adapting the seed-mediated solution phase synthesis of nanocrystals in order to directly grow them on crystalline thin films.

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The implementation of nano-objects in numerous emerging applications often demands their integration in macroscopic devices. Here we present the bottom-up epitaxial solution growth of high-density arrays of vertical 5 nm diameter single-crystalline metallic cobalt nanowires on wafer-scale crystalline metal surfaces. The nanowires form regular hexagonal arrays on unpatterned metallic films.

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  • The study focuses on creating and analyzing hybrid nanostructures made of iron (Fe) nanocubes bonded to cobalt (Co) nanorods, highlighting their unique shapes and magnetic properties.
  • Advanced electron microscopy techniques, including high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), electron tomography, and EDX tomography, were used to understand their structure and composition.
  • The iron nanocubes serve as nucleation centers that significantly alter the magnetization behavior of the entire hybrid structure, enhancing the overall magnetic anisotropy.
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  • - A new chemical method has been developed to create porous nanocubes of metallic iron (Fe), which feature internal pores confirmed by electron tomography.
  • - The study utilized electronic holography and micromagnetic simulations to demonstrate that these pores enhance the stability of vortices within the interacting nanocube assemblies.
  • - These findings suggest potential low-cost applications in fields such as microelectronics, magnetic recording, and biology by improving magnetic vortex stability.
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  • Researchers studied room temperature magnetoresistance in networks of metallic Fe nanoparticles that have organic barriers.
  • They found that the electrical properties and magnetotransport measurements indicate this magnetoresistance is due to spin-dependent tunneling.
  • The study showcases that using organic ligands can serve as effective spin-conservative tunnel barriers, highlighting a potential chemistry-based method for spintronics at room temperature.
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