Structural and magnetic properties of Ga-substituted Co2−W hexaferrites

Precursor powders of BaCo₂Fe_16-xGa_xO₂₇ with 0.0 ≤ x ≤ 0.8 were prepared using high-energy ball milling, and the effects of chemical composition on the structural and magnetic properties of the powders sintered at 1300 °C were investigated using x-ray diffractometer (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM). XRD patterns of all samples indicated crystallization of pure BaCo₂−W (BaCo₂Fe₁₆O₂₇) hexaferrite phase. SEM measurements revealed large step-like formations with hexagonal crystallites. The magnetic data revealed small fluctuations of the saturation magnetization below the value 72.56 emu/g corresponding to the unsubstituted sample. The coercive field H_c of all samples ranged between 70 Oe and 130 Oe, indicating soft magnetic phase. Curie temperature determined from the thermomagnetic curves of the samples decreased from 485 °C at x = 0.0 down to 451 °C at x = 0.6. Also, the thermomagnetic curves revealed the presence of a minority magnetic phase with enhanced superexchange interaction, and the occurrence of complex magnetic phase transitions associated with spin reorientation transitions above room temperature.     

Non-stoichiometry-induced metal-to-insulator transition in nickelate thin films grown by pulsed laser deposition

While controlling the cation contents in perovskite rare-earth nickelate thin films, a metal-to-insulator phase transition is reported. Systematic control of cation stoichiometry has been achieved by manipulating the irradiation of excimer laser in pulsed laser deposition. Two rare-earth nickelate bilayer thin-film heterostructures with the controlled cation stoichiometry (i.e. stoichiometric and Ni-excessive) have been fabricated. It is found that the Ni-excessive nickelate film is structurally less dense than the stoichiometric film, albeit both of them are epitaxial and coherent with respect to the underlying substrate. More interestingly, as a temperature decreases, a metal-to-insulator transition is only observed in the Ni-excessive nickelate films, which can be associated with the enhanced disproportionation of the Ni charge valence. Based on our theoretical results, possible origins (e.g. anti-site defects) of the low-temperature insulating state are discussed with the need of future work for deeper understanding. Our work can be utilized to realize unusual physical phenomena (e.g. metal-to-insulator phase transitions) in complex oxide films by manipulating the chemical stoichiometry in pulsed laser deposition.     

Quantum simulation of the Hubbard model with ultracold fermions in optical lattices

Ultracold atomic gases provide a fantastic platform to implement quantum simulators and investigate a variety of models initially introduced in condensed matter physics or other areas. One of the most promising applications of quantum simulation is the study of strongly correlated Fermi gases, for which exact theoretical results are not always possible with state-of-the-art approaches. Here, we review recent progress of the quantum simulation of the emblematic Fermi–Hubbard model with ultracold atoms. After introducing the Fermi–Hubbard model in the context of condensed matter, its implementation in ultracold atom systems, and its phase diagram, we review landmark experimental achievements, from the early observation of the onset of quantum degeneracy and superfluidity to the demonstration of the Mott insulator regime and the emergence of long-range anti-ferromagnetic order. We conclude by discussing future challenges, including the possible observation of high-$T_{\mathrm{c}}$ superconductivity, transport properties, and the interplay of strong correlations and disorder or topology.     

Dynamic conductivity modified by impurity resonant states in doping three-dimensional Dirac semimetals

The impurity effect is studied in three-dimensional Dirac semimetals in the framework of a T-matrix method to consider the multiple scattering events of Dirac electrons off impurities. It has been found that a strong impurity potential can significantly restructure the energy dispersion and the density of states of Dirac electrons. An impurity-induced resonant state emerges and significantly modifies the pristine optical response. It is shown that the impurity state disturbs the common longitudinal optical conductivity by creating either an optical conductivity peak or double absorption jumps, depending on the relative position of the impurity band and the Fermi level. More importantly, these conductivity features appear in the forbidden region between the Drude and interband transition, completely or partially filling the Pauli block region of optical response. The underlying physics is that the appearance of resonance states as well as the broadening of the bands leads to a more complicated selection rule for the optical transitions, making it possible to excite new electron-hole pairs in the forbidden region. These features in optical conductivity provide valuable information to understand the impurity behaviors in 3D Dirac materials.     

Surface State‐Induced Anomalous Negative Thermal Quenching of Multiferroic BiFeO3 Nanowires

Wide‐bandgap semiconductor nanowires with surface defect emission centers have the potential to be used as sensitive thermometers and optical probes. Here, we show that the green luminescence of multiferroic BiFeO₃ (BFO) nanowires shows an anomalous negative thermal quenching (NTQ) with increasing temperatures. The release of trapped carriers from localized surface defect states is suggested as the possible mechanism for the increased green luminescence which was experimentally observed at elevated temperatures. A reasonable interpretation of the photoluminescence (PL) processes in BFO nanowires is achieved, and the activation energies of the PL quenching and thermal hopping are deduced. Negative thermal quenching of BFO nanowires provides a new strategy for optical thermometry at higher temperatures.     

Alkali-metal-induced topological nodal line semimetalin layered XN2 (X= Cr,Mo, W)

Based on first principles calculations and the K·p effective model, we propose that alkali metal deposition on the surface of hexagonal XN₂ (X= Cr, Mo, W) nanosheets induces topologically nontrivial phases in these systems. When spin orbit coupling (SOC) is disregarded, the electron-like conduction band from N-p_z orbitals can be considered to cross the hole-like valence band from X-d²_z orbitals, thereby giving rise to a topological nodal line state in lithium-functionalized XN₂ sheets (Li₂MoN₂ and Li₂WN₂). Such band crossing is protected by the existence of mirror reflection and time reversal symmetry. More interestingly, the bands cross exactly at the Fermi level, and the linear dispersion regions of such band crossings extend to as high as 0.9 eV above the crossing. For Li₂CrN₂, the results reveal the emergence of a Dirac cone at the Fermi level. Our calculations show that lattice compression decreases the thickness of a Li₂CrN₂ nanosheet, leading to phase transition to a nodal line semimetal. The evolution of the band gap of Li₂XN₂ at the Γ point indicates that the nontrivial topological character of Li₂XN₂ nanolayers is stable over a large strain range. When SOC is included, the band crossing point is gapped out giving rise to quantum spin Hall states in Li₂CrN₂ nanosheets, while for Li₂MoN₂, the SOC-induced gap at the crossing points is negligible.     

Study of the XYZ states at the BESIII

With its unique data samples at energies of 3.8–4.6 GeV, the BESIII experiment made a significant contribution to the study of charmonium and charmonium-like states, i.e., the XYZ states.We review the results for observations of the Z_c(3900) and Z_c(4020) states, the X(3872) in e⁺e⁻ annihilation, and charmonium ψ(1³D₂) state, as well as measurements of the cross-sections of ωχ_cJ and ηJ/ψ, and the search for e⁺e⁻→ γχ_cJ and γY (4140). We also present data from BESIII that may further strengthen the study of the XYZ and conventional charmonium states, and discuss perspectives on future experiments.     

无规共聚物P(MEO2MA-co-OEGMA)的合成及其在水溶液中温度诱导相转变行为

利用原子转移自由基聚合(ATRP)方法,由单体2-(2-甲氧基乙氧基)甲基丙烯酸乙酯(MEO₂MA)和寡聚(乙二醇)甲基醚甲基丙烯酸酯(OEGMA, M_n = 500 g·mol^-1)合成了无规共聚物P(MEO₂MA-co-OEGMA).并采用动态光散射(DLS)、紫外光谱及透射电子显微镜(TEM)等技术考察聚合物在水溶液中的温度响应性聚集行为,获得其在水溶液中的最低临界溶解温度(LCST)及其随组成的变化规律.结果表明,该聚合物具有良好且可逆的温度响应行为,这主要归因于聚合物与水分子之间氢键作用,及其分子本身疏水作用之间为了保持一种微妙的动态平衡而自发对聚集形态进行的“自我调整”,从而达到新的热力学平衡状态的结果.该聚合物的LCST与聚合物中单体OEGMA所占的摩尔比例呈线性关系,可以通过改变单体的摩尔配比实现对聚合物LCST的调控.     

过渡金属氮化物在锂离子电池中的应用

锂离子电池因其卓越的性能已成为当前使用最广泛的二次电池。过渡金属氮化物因具有低而平的充放电电位平台、可逆性能好与容量大等特点,被广泛应用于锂离子电池负极材料。本文简要综述了过渡金属氮化物在锂离子电池中的应用现状和研究进展。重点介绍了过渡金属氮化物及其复合物的物理和化学制备方法及其在锂离子电池中的应用研究进展,并且指出过渡金属氮化物应用于锂离子电池中目前面临的问题以及相应解决方案。