Substantially Enhanced Spin Polarization in Epitaxial CrTe Quantum Films.

2D van der Waals (vdW) magnets, which extend to the monolayer (ML) limit, are rapidly gaining prominence in logic applications for low-power electronics. To improve the performance of spintronic devices, such as vdW magnetic tunnel junctions, a large effective spin polarization of valence electrons is highly desired. Despite its considerable significance, direct probe of spin polarization in these 2D magnets has not been extensively explored.

Colossal Linear Magnetoelectricity in Polar Magnet Fe_{2}Mo_{3}O_{8}.

The linear magnetoelectric effect is an attractive phenomenon in condensed matters and provides indispensable technological functionalities. Here a colossal linear magnetoelectric effect with diagonal component α_{33} reaching up to ∼480  ps/m is reported in a polar magnet Fe_{2}Mo_{3}O_{8}. This effect can persist in a broad range of magnetic field (∼20  T) and is orders of magnitude larger than reported values in literature.

Effect of Mn doping and charge transfer on LaTiMnO.

We report the magnetic and electronic transport properties of Mn-doped LaTiMnO(= 0, 0.1, 0.3, 0.

Electronic-reconstruction-enhanced hydrogen evolution catalysis in oxide polymorphs.

Transition metal oxides exhibit strong structure-property correlations, which has been extensively investigated and utilized for achieving efficient oxygen electrocatalysts. However, high-performance oxide-based electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution are quite limited, and the mechanism still remains elusive. Here we demonstrate the strong correlations between the electronic structure and hydrogen electrocatalytic activity within a single oxide system TiO.

Interface-induced multiferroism by design in complex oxide superlattices.

Interfaces between materials present unique opportunities for the discovery of intriguing quantum phenomena. Here, we explore the possibility that, in the case of superlattices, if one of the layers is made ultrathin, unexpected properties can be induced between the two bracketing interfaces. We pursue this objective by combining advanced growth and characterization techniques with theoretical calculations.

Magnetic and electronic properties of La MO and possible polaron formation in hole-doped La MO (M = Ru and Os).

Oxides with 4d/5d transition metal ions are physically interesting for their particular crystalline structures as well as the spin-orbit coupled electronic structures. Recent experiments revealed a series of 4d/5d transition metal oxides R MO (R: rare earth; M: 4d/5d transition metal) with unique quasi-one-dimensional M chains. Here first-principles calculations have been performed to study the electronic structures of LaOsO and LaRuO.

High-Performance Photothermal Conversion of Narrow-Bandgap Ti O Nanoparticles.

Ti O nanoparticles with high performance of photothermal conversion are demonstrated for the first time. Benefiting from the nanosize and narrow-bandgap features, the Ti O nanoparticles possess strong light absorption and nearly 100% internal solar-thermal conversion efficiency. Furthermore, Ti O -nanoparticle-based thin film shows potential use in seawater desalination and purification.

Synthesis, Optical, and Magnetic Properties of BaNiF Nanowires.

A low-temperature hydrothermal route has been developed, and pure phase BaNiF nanowires have been successfully prepared under optimized conditions. Under the 325 nm excitation, the BaNiF nanowires exhibit three emission bands with peak positions locating at 360, 530, and 700 nm, respectively. Combined with the first-principles calculations, the photoluminescence property can be explained by the electron transitions between the t and e orbitals.

Inversion of Ferrimagnetic Magnetization by Ferroelectric Switching via a Novel Magnetoelectric Coupling.

Although several multiferroic materials or heterostructures have been extensively studied, finding strong magnetoelectric couplings for the electric field control of the magnetization remains challenging. Here, a novel interfacial magnetoelectric coupling based on three components (ferroelectric dipole, magnetic moment, and antiferromagnetic order) is analytically formulated. As an extension of carrier-mediated magnetoelectricity, the new coupling is shown to induce an electric-magnetic hysteresis loop.

Strong room-temperature blue-violet photoluminescence of multiferroic BaMnF4.

BaMnF4 microsheets have been prepared using a hydrothermal method. Strong room-temperature blue-violet photoluminescence has been observed (an absolute luminescence quantum yield of 67%) with two peaks located at 385 nm and 410 nm. More interestingly, photon self-absorption phenomenon has been observed, leading to an unusual abrupt decrease in the luminescence intensity at a wavelength of 400 nm.

Strain driven sequential magnetic transitions in strained GdTiO3 on compressive substrates: a first-principles study.

The compressive strain effect on the magnetic ground state and electronic structure of strained GdTiO3 has been studied using the first-principles method. Unlike the cases of congeneric YTiO3 and LaTiO3, both of which become the A-type antiferromagnetism on the (0 0 1) LaAlO3 substrate despite their contrastive magnetism, the ground state of strained GdTiO3 on the LaAlO3 substrate changes from the original ferromagnetism to a G-type antiferromagnetim, instead of the A-type one although Gd(3+) is between Y(3+) and La(3+). It is only when the in-plane compressive strain is large enough, e.