Pseudogap of metallic layered nickelate R(2-x)Sr(x)NiO4 (R = Nd, Eu) crystals measured using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy

We have investigated charge dynamics and electronic structures for single crystals of metallic layered nickelates, R(2-x)Sr(x)NiO4 (R = Nd, Eu), isostructural to La(2-x)Sr(x)CuO4. Angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy on the barely metallic Eu(0.9)Sr(1.1)NiO4 (R = Eu, x = 1.1) has revealed a large hole surface of x2-y2 character with a high-energy pseudogap of the same symmetry and comparable magnitude with those of underdoped (x<0.1) cuprates, although the antiferromagnetic interactions are 1 order of magnitude smaller. This finding strongly indicates that the momentum-dependent pseudogap feature in the layered nickelate arises from the real-space charge correlation.     

RuX2 (X=P、As、Sb) 家族化合物中的压力诱导的超导和拓扑相变

作为热电材料 FeSb2 的姊妹材料，RuSb2 被广泛研究，但以前的工作主要集中在与 FeSb2 的比较上，尚未对 RuSb2 在压力下的性质进行深入研究。在本文中，我们研究了 RuSb2 在压力 下的性质，并探讨了其与 Ru 的磷族化合物 RuP2 和 RuAs2 之间晶体和电子结构的异同。我们 用晶体结构搜索方法结合第一性原理计算，发现该族化合物经历了一系列结构相变：（I）RuSb2： Pnnm → I4/mcm → I4/mmm；(II) RuP2：Pnnm → I41/amd → Cmcm；(III) RuAs2： Pnnm → P-62m。新发现的五个相在高压下都是热力学和动力学稳定的，并表现出金属性。RuSb2 和 RuP2 的四个高压相在泄压到零压后动力学依旧稳定。我们计算得到 RuSb2 的 I4/mcm 和 I4/mmm 相以及 RuP2 的 I41/amd 和 Cmcm 相的超导转变温度在 0 GPa 时分别约为 7.3 K、 10.9 K、13.0 K 和 10.1 K。另外，RuSb2 的 I4/mcm 和 I4/mmm 相以及 RuP2 的 I41/amd 相还具有拓扑非平庸的表面态。我们的研究表明，压力是调节 Ru 的磷族化合物结构、电子和超 导性质的有效方法。     

Effect of anionic ordering on the electronic and optical properties of BaTaO_2N:TB-mBJ density functional calculation

This report presents a first-principles investigation of the structural, electronic, and optical properties of perovskite oxynitrides BaTaO_2 N by means of density functional theory(DFT) calculations using the full-potential linearized augmented plane wave(FP-LAPW) method. Three possible structures(P4mm, I4/mmm, and Pmma) are considered according to the TaO_4N_2 octahedral configurations. The calculated structural parameters are found to be in good agreement with the previous theoretical and experimental results. Moreover, the electronic band structure dispersion, total, and partial densities of electron states are investigated to explain the origin of bandgaps and the contribution of each orbital's species in the valence and the conduction bands. The calculated minimum bandgaps of the P4 mm, I4/mmm, and Pmma structures are 1.83 e V, 1.59 e V, and 1.49 e V, respectively. Furthermore, the optical properties represented by the dielectric functions calculated for BaTaO_2 N show that the I4/mmm phase absorbs the light at a large window in both the visible and UV regions,whereas the other two structures(P4mm and Pmma) are more active in the UV region. Our investigations provide important information for the potential application of this material.     

Synthesis and transport properties of La2NiO4

La₂NiO₄ compounds were prepared by a modified sol–gel auto-combustion method, which is a low-temperature combustion synthesis procedure using microwave-assisted sol–gel as precursors. The high-temperature transport properties of the samples were investigated. The band structure, total density of states (DOS), and partial density of states (PDOS) of low-temperature orthorhombic (Bmab) phase and high-temperature tetragonal (I4/mmm) phase for La₂NiO₄ were calculated in order to study the transport properties of the as-obtained samples.     

Electronic structure and energetics of tetragonal SrCuO? and its high-pressure superstructure phase

First-principles calculations have been used to investigate the electronic structure and energetics of the simple tetragonal SrCuO? (P4=mmm) and its high-pressure tetragonal superstructure (P4=mmm). Based on the calculations, the high-pressure phase is metastable as compared with the low pressure tetragonal phase, with an energy difference of 0.13 eV per SrCuO? formula unit. The energy barrier to the transition from the superstructure to the simple tetragonal structure is 0.24 eV at 7 GPa; thus, high temperatures are required to synthesize the latter. Among the possible structural configurations resulting from the partially occupied oxygen site in the superstructure phase, the most stable structure has a space group PN4m2, reduced from that of the simple tetragonal structure P4=mmm. The detailed analysis of the electronic band structures of the simple tetragonal and superstructure phases suggests that the out-of-plane buckling of the O atoms in the superstructure leads to significant decrease in the O p-Cu d orbital overlap, allowing the energy of the system to be lowered, which is necessary for the structural stability. An understanding of the electronic structure and energetics of the high-pressure superstructure phase and its relation to the simple tetragonal phase provides a basis for exploring the physical properties of the infinite layer, high-TC superconductor.     

压力下CaN_2结构稳定性和电子结构的第一性原理研究

通过运用基于密度泛函理论的第一性原理计算方法结合广义梯度近似对压力下CaN_2的结构稳定性和电子结构进行了理论研究.对结构稳定性的研究表明,ZnCl_2型结构是CaN_2在环境压力下最稳定的结构,而实验上观察到的CaC_2-I型结构是CaN_2高压下(8.7 GPa)的稳定性结构.在50 GPa的压力范围内,CaN_2将发生从ZnCl_2型结构到ThC_2型结构再到CaC_2-I型结构的两次压致结构相变,其相变压力分别为0.81 GPa和8.77 GPa.而对电子结构的研究表明ZnCl_2型、ThC_2型和CaC_2-I型三种结构的CaN_2都表现出了金属特征,三种结构CaN_2当中Ca-N键的离子-共价性特征和N原子间的N=N双键特征得到了确认.     

New Members of the RuSr 2 RECu 2 O 8 Family of Phases (RE=Rare Earth) Obtained at High Pressure and Temperature

At room pressure, Sm, Eu and Gd seem to be the only RE elements that accept to enter into the structure of RuSr 2 GdCu 2 O 8 . However high pressure and high temperatures allow one to replace gadolinium by other lanthanide cations. We have been successful in replacing Gd by Y, La, Pr, Nd, Tb, Dy, Ho and Er. X-ray diffraction patterns fitted by the Rietveld method show that the average crystal structure of RuSr 2 RECu 2 O 8 is tetragonal with P 4/ mmm space group symmetry. Micro-Raman experiments have been performed on RuSr 2 GdCu 2 O 8 samples synthesized at both high and room pressure; the resulting spectra are consistent with the same structure, since there are no major changes in the low-frequency range.     

高Tc氧化物超导体的电子结构

本文综述了高Tc氧化物超导体(La_2CuO_4及YBa_2Cu_3O_(7-8)的(计算)电子结构。本文基于Freeman教授研究组的工作。 (1) 体心四方结构的La_2CuO_4能带结构计算结果表明:La_2CuO_4的电子结构由在正方形Cu-O平面内的Cu3d-O2p相瓦作用所控制。存在一个沿[110]方向|q|=2k_F(强的)迭套的Fermi表面,它导致了电子驱动的结构失稳,以及在电子状态密度上的VanHove对数奇性。此种Fermi面的迭套被认为是引起了(Peierls 2k_F)失稳性,从而解释了La_(2-x)M_xCuO_4由四方结构到正交结构的相变。 (2) 如同在La_(2-x)M_xCuO_4中的情况一样,具正交结构的YBa_2Cu_3O_(7-8)的电子结构由Cu-O间的相互作用所支配;同时存在着二维及一维的Cu3d-O2p相互作用为YBa_2Cu_3O_(7-8)电子结构的特征。YBa2Cu_3O_(7-8)在E_F处的状态密度值低于La_(2-x)M_xCuO_4的相应值,在YBa_2Cu_3O_(7-8)中的Y或Ba原子作用如同一电子的施主。     

First principle study of the magnetism of Sr2CoMoO6-δ (δ = 0, 1/2) double perovskites

We investigate the electronic structure of bulk Sr₂CoMoO_6-δ double perovskites using the ab initio Full Potential Linearized Augmented Plane Wave method in order to study their magnetic properties within the GGA and GGA+U methods. We discuss the relative stability of ferromagnetic (FM) and antiferromagnetic (AFM) orders (i) without and with taking into account the observed tilting of the oxygen octahedra and (ii) by introducing oxygen vacancies. We show that a very good agreement with experimental results — AFM order for δ= 0 and FM order for δ= 1/2 — is obtained only when the tilting of the oxygen tetrahedra is taking into account and when the GGA+U method is used.     

Coadsorption of cesium and oxygen on Ni(100): II. Cesium enhanced chemisorption and oxidation

The effects of adsorbed Cs atoms on the chemisorption and oxidation of Ni(100) surfaces have been studied with low energy electron diffraction and work function measurements. In addition to the c(2×2) structure of O on clean Ni(100), the preadsorption of Cs caused the formation of a (3×3) and a c(4×2) structure. The experimental results suggest that these new structures were due to ordered arrays of chemisorbed O atoms underneath the Cs layer, with O densities higher than that of c(2×2). It is found that a Cs overlayer increased drastically the rate of O chemisorption and NiO formation. Depending on the initial Cs coverage, the NiO formed in the (100) and (111) crystallographic rientations. During the enhanced oxidation the Cs layer remained on top of the oxide.     

Epitaxial growth and magnetic exchange anisotropy in Fe3O4<Emphasis Type="Bold">/NiO bilayers grown on MgO(001) and Al</Emphasis>2O3(0001)

Epitaxial Fe3O4/NiO bilayers were epitaxially grown on MgO(001) and Al2O3(0001) substrates to investigate the influence of the fully spin compensated (001) and the non-compensated (111) NiO interface planes between the ferromagnetic (F) and antiferromagnetic (AF) layers on the AF/F exchange coupling. Bilayers of different magnetite thicknesses and constant NiO thickness were investigated. The structural characterizations indicate a perfect epitaxy of the two layers for the both growth directions in the two Fe3O4/NiO/MgO(001) and NiO/Fe3O4/Al2O3(0001) systems. An epitaxial ferrimagnetic (Ni,Fe)Fe2O4 phase is observed at the AF/F interface when the NiO oxide is grown on the top of the Fe3O4 layer while a perfectly flat AF/F interface is observed in the Fe3O4/NiO/MgO(001) system exhibiting only a very slight interdiffusion. Magnetic measurements indicate a relative strong bias at 300 K for the bilayers grown on Al2O3(0001), which decreases with the inverse of the ferrimagnetic layer thickness as theoretically expected. On the contrary, a zero exchange biasing is observed at 300 K for the bilayers grown on MgO(001).     

Relevance of 3d multiplet structure in nickelate and cuprate superconductors

The recent discovery of superconductivity in doped rare-earth infinite-layer nickelates RNiO_2, R = Nd, Pr as a new family of unconventional superconductors has inspired extensive research on their intriguing properties. One of the major motivation to explore the nickelate superconductors originated from their similarities with and differences from the cuprate superconductors, which have been extensively studied over the last decades but are still lack of the thorough understanding.In this short review, we summarized our recent investigation of the relevance of Ni/Cu-3 d multiplet structure on the hole doped spin states in cuprate and recently discovered nickelate superconductors via an impurity model incorporating all the 3d orbitals. Further plausible explorations to be conducted are outlined as well. Our presented work provides an insightful framework for the investigation of the strongly correlated electronic systems in terms of the multiplet structure of transition metal compounds.     

A vibrational investigation of the stability, morphology and surface reactivity of NiO on Ni(100)

The formation and thermal stability of NiO on Ni(100) have been investigated using high-resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) and low-energy electron diffraction (LEED). Our results indicate that the saturated NiO/Ni(100) layer prepared at 300 K is rather poorly ordered and is thermally unstable at higher temperatures. Heating this NiO/Ni(100) layer to 800 K produces a surface with mixtures of crystalline NiO(100) clusters and c(2 × 2)−O chemisorbed local structures. The long range order of the NiO(100) clusters could be improved by repeated cycles of oxygen adsorption at 300 K followed by heating to 800 K. The NiO(100) clusters obtained after 9 cycles of such dosing-annealing exhibit bulk-like properties, as suggested both by the off-specular EELS measurements and by the experimental observation that the intensities of the multiple loss features follow the expected Poisson distribution. The Ni---O bond strength of the NiO(100) clusters, estimated from the overtone spectra, is 3.6 eV. In addition, the reduction of NiO(100) clusters by H₂ at 800 K has also been investigated. The NiO(100) clusters are reduced preferentially with respect to the c(2 × 2)−O overlayer, resulting in a reduction sequence of NiO(100) → c(2 × 2)−O → p(2 × 2)−O → Ni(100).     

Crystallographic and magnetic structures of Y0.8Sr2.2Mn2GaO8−δ: a new vacancy-ordered perovskite structure

The anion-deficient perovskite Y_0.8Sr_2.2Mn₂GaO_8−δ (where δ∼0.1) has been synthesised and the crystal and magnetic structures determined by Rietveld analysis of neutron powder diffraction (NPD) data. The material has body-centred tetragonal symmetry (I4/mmm, a=7.6373(3) Å and c=15.6636(10) Å) and consists of alternating layers of octahedral and tetrahedral polyhedra, the layers being perpendicular to [001]. The octahedral layers are preferentially occupied by manganese and the tetrahedral layers are a mixture of manganese and gallium. The precise cation distribution depends critically on preparative conditions. An unusual structural feature of these materials is the arrangement of oxygen vacancies in the tetrahedral layers: in the basic structure, isolated squares of corner-linked tetrahedra are formed instead of the chains that are observed in brownmillerite phases. Additional oxide ions in this layer probably allow the Mn ions to achieve distorted square pyramidal coordination. Low temperature NPD and magnetisation data indicate antiferromagnetic ordering below 100 K.     

Unusual Pr antiferromagnetic ordering in high-Tc cuprates

The anomalous Pr antiferromagnetic order with high Néel temperature T_N(Pr) are reported throughout the whole Pr_1+xBa_2−xCu₃O_7−y or 1212-type Cu(Ba_2−xPr_x)PrCu₂O_7−y system (−0.2<x<1; −0.4<y<1), where three distinct crystal structures were observed: orthorhombic 1212-chain O(I) (space group Pmmm), tetragonal T (P4/mmm), and orthorhombic O(II) (Cmmm). Systematic variation of T_N(Pr) in this system as well as in other 1212 and 2212 cuprates M_nA₂PrCu₂O₇ (n=1, 2, M=Hg, Tl, Pb/Cu, Bi, Nb, Cu; A=Sr, Ba, Ba/Pr) was discussed through the correlation of T_N(Pr) with Pr–O bond length. The importance of quasi-two-dimensional Pr–O–Pr superexchange magnetic coupling through strong wave function overlap between the overextended Pr-4f orbital with eight O-2p_π orbitals in the adjacent CuO₂ bi-layer is discussed. No superconductivity was observed in the present study.     

Advances in data reduction of high-pressure x-ray powder diffraction data from two-dimensional detectors: a case study of schafarzikite (FeSb(2)O(4))

Methods have been developed to facilitate the data analysis of multiple two-dimensional powder diffraction images. These include, among others, automatic detection and calibration of Debye-Scherrer ellipses using pattern recognition techniques, and signal filtering employing established statistical procedures like fractile statistics.All algorithms are implemented in the freely available program package Powder3D developed for the evaluation and graphical presentation of large powder diffraction data sets.As a case study, we report the pressure dependence of the crystal structure of iron antimony oxide FeSb(2)O(4) (p≤21?GPa, T = 298?K) using high-resolution angle dispersive x-ray powder diffraction. FeSb(2)O(4) shows two phase transitions in the measured pressure range. The crystal structures of all modifications consist of frameworks of Fe(2+)O(6) octahedra and irregular Sb(3+)O(4) polyhedra. At ambient conditions, FeSb(2)O(4) crystallizes in space group P4(2)/mbc (phase I). Between p = 3.2?GPa and 4.1?GPa it exhibits a displacive second order phase transition to a structure of space group P 2(1)/c (phase II, a = 5.7792(4)??, b = 8.3134(9)??, c = 8.4545(11)??, β = 91.879(10)°, at p = 4.2?GPa). A second phase transition occurs between p = 6.4?GPa and 7.4?GPa to a structure of space group P4(2)/m (phase III, a = 7.8498(4)??, c = 5.7452(5)??, at p = 10.5?GPa). A nonlinear compression behaviour over the entire pressure range is observed, which can be described by three Vinet equations in the ranges from p = 0.52?GPa to p = 3.12?GPa, p = 4.2?GPa to p = 6.3?GPa and from p = 7.5?GPa to p = 19.8?GPa. The extrapolated bulk moduli of the high-pressure phases were determined to K(0) = 49(2)?GPa for phase I, K(0) = 27(3)?GPa for phase II and K(0) = 45(2)?GPa for phase III. The crystal structures of all phases are refined against x-ray powder data measured at several pressures between p = 0.52?GPa, and 10.5?GPa.     

Ab initio study on crystal structure and phase stability of ZrC_2 under high pressure

The structural stabilities and crystal evolution behaviors of the hyper stoichiometric compound ZrC₂(carbon rich;C/Zr> 1.0) are studied under ambient and high pressure conditions using first-principles calculations in combination with the particle-swarm optimization algorithm.Six viable structures of ZrC₂ in P21/c,Cmmm,Cmc2₁,P4₂/nmc,Immm and P6/mmm symmetries are identified.These structures are dynamically stable as their phonon spectra have no imaginary modes at zero pressure or at the selected high-pressure points.Among them,the P21/c phase represents the ground state structure,whereas P21/c,P4₂/nmc,Immm and P6/mmm phases are part of the phase transition series.The phase order and critical pressures of the phase transition are determined to be approximately 300 GPa according to the equation of states and enthalpy.Furthermore,the mechanical and electronic properties are investigated.The P21/c and Cmc2₁ phases display a semi-metal nature,whereas the P4₂/nmc,Immm,P6/mmm and Cmmm phases exhibit a metallic nature.Moreover,the present study reveals considerable information regarding the structural,mechanical and electronic properties of ZrC₂,thereby providing key insights into its material properties and evaluating its behavior in practical applications.     

Structural and valence changes of europium hydride induced by application of high-pressure H₂

Europium hydride EuH(x), when exposed to high-pressure H?, has been found to exhibit the following structural and valence changes: Pnma(x = 2, divalent) → P6?/mmc(x = 2, 7.2-8.7 GPa) → I4/m(x > 2, 8.7-9.7 GPa) → I4/mmm(x > 2, 9.7 GPa-,trivalent). With a trivalent character and a distorted cubic fcc structure, the I4/mmm structure is the β phase commonly observed for other rare-earth metal hydrides. Our study clearly demonstrates that EuH(x) is no longer an irregular member of the rare-earth metal hydrides.     

Investigation of the EPR parameters and local structures for Cu2+ in Bis(l-asparaginato) M(II) catalysts (M=Zn,Cd, Mg)

The electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) parameters (g factors and hyperfine structure constants) for Cu²⁺ in Bis(l-asparaginato) M(II) catalysts (M=Zn, Cd, Mg) are theoretically investigated using the high order perturbation formulas of these parameters for 3d⁹ ions in orthorhombically elongated octahedra. Ligand orbital and spin–orbit coupling contributions are included from the cluster approach in view of strong covalency. The ligand octahedra (i.e., [CuO₄N₂]^12? clusters) are found to experience axial and perpendicular local bond length variations Δ (≈0.19–0.25 Å) and δ (≈0.12–0.14 Å) due to the Jahn–Teller effect and size mismatch, which are dissimilar to those of host M²⁺ sites in pure compounds. The theoretical EPR parameters based on the above local structures show good agreement with the observed values, and some improvements are achieved as compared with those in the previous work. The local structures of these centers are discussed.