Superconductivity and unconventional density waves in vanadium-based kagome materials AV3Sb5

Recently, the discovery of vanadium-based kagome metal AV₃Sb₅ (A= K, Rb, Cs) has attracted great interest in the field of superconductivity due to the coexistence of superconductivity, non-trivial surface state and multiple density waves. In this topical review, we present recent works of superconductivity and unconventional density waves in vanadium-based kagome materials AV₃Sb₅. We start with the unconventional charge density waves, which are thought to correlate to the time-reversal symmetry-breaking orders and the unconventional anomalous Hall effects in AV₃Sb₅. Then we discuss the superconductivity and the topological band structure. Next, we review the competition between the superconductivity and charge density waves under different conditions of pressure, chemical doping, thickness, and strains. Finally, the experimental evidence of pseudogap pair density wave is discussed.     

Automated synthesis of gadopentetate dimeglumine through solid-liquid reaction in femtosecond laser fabricated microfluidic chips

Despite the continuously increased requirement on automated synthesis of medicines for distributed manufacturing and personal care, it remains a challenge to realize automated synthesis which requires solid-liquid phase reactions. In this work, we demonstrated an automated solid-liquid synthesis for gadopentetate dimeglumine, the most widely used magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) contrast agent. The high-efficiency reaction was performed in a 3 D microfluidic chip which was fabricated by femtoseco...     

Evolution of electrical conductivity and semiconductor to metal transition of iron oxides at extreme conditions

Iron oxides are widely found as ores in Earth's crust and are also important constituents of its interiors. Their polymorphism, composition changes, and electronic structures play essential roles in controlling the structure and geodynamic properties of the solid Earth. While all-natural occurring iron oxides are semiconductors or insulators at ambient pressure, they start to metalize under pressure. Here in this work, we review the electronic conductivity and metallization of iron oxides under high-pressure conditions found in Earth's lower mantle. We summarize that the metallization of iron oxides is generally controlled by the pressure-induced bandgap closure near the Fermi level. After metallization, they possess much higher electrical and thermal conductivity, which will facilitate the thermal convection, support a more stable and thicker D^{$\prime\prime$} layer, and formulate Earth's magnetic field, all of which will constrain the large-scale dynamos of the mantle and core.     

Simultaneous enhancement of strength and ductility in friction stir processed 2205 duplex stainless steel with a bimodal structure:experiments and crystal plasticity modeling

Achieving excellent strength-ductility synergy is a long-lasting research theme for structural materials.However,attempts to enhance strength usually induce a loss of ductility,i.e.,the strength-ductility trade-off.In the present study,the strength-ductility trade-off in duplex stainless steel(DSS)was overcome by developing a bimodal structure using friction stir processing(FSP).The ultimate tensile strength and elongation were improved by 140%and 109%,respectively,compared with those of the asreceived materials.Plastic deformation and concurrent dynamic recrystallization(DRX)during FSP were responsible for the formation of bimodal structure.Incompatible deformation resulted in the accumulation of dislocations at the phase boundaries,which triggered interpenetrating nucleation between the austenite and ferrite phases during DRX,leading to a bimodal structure.The in situ mechanical responses of the bimodal structure during tensile deformation were investigated by crystal plasticity finite element modeling(CPFEM).The stress field distribution obtained from CPFEM revealed that the simultaneous enhancement of strength and ductility in a bimodal structure could be attributed to the formation of a unique dispersion-strengthened system with the austenite and ferrite phases.It is indicated that the present design of alternating fine austenite and coarse ferrite layers is a promising strategy for optimizing the mechanical properties of DSSs.     

Effect of biaxial strain and hydrostatic pressure on the magnetic properties of bilayer CrI3

Two-dimensional van der Waals magnetic materials are intriguing for applications in the future spintronics devices, so it is crucial to explore strategy to control the magnetic properties. Here, we carried out first-principles calculations and Monte Carlo simulations to investigate the effect of biaxial strain and hydrostatic pressure on the magnetic properties of the bilayer CrI₃. We found that the magnetic anisotropy, intralayer and interlayer exchange interactions, and Curie temperature can be tuned by biaxial strain and hydrostatic pressure. Large compressive biaxial strain may induce a ferromagneticto-antiferromagnetic transition of both CrI₃ layers. The hydrostatic pressure could enhance the intralayer exchange interaction significantly and hence largely boost the Curie temperature. The effect of the biaxial strain and hydrostatic pressure revealed in the bilayer CrI₃ may be generalized to other two-dimensional magnetic materials.     

Asymmetric nonlinear-mode-conversion in an optical waveguide withPT symmetry

Asymmetric mode transformation in waveguide is of great significance for on-chip integrated devices with one-way effect, while it is challenging to achieve asymmetric nonlinear-mode-conversion (NMC) due to the limitations imposed by phase-matching. In this work, we theoretically proposed a new scheme for realizing asymmetric NMC by combining frequency-doubling process and periodic PT symmetric modulation in an optical waveguide. By engineering the one-way momentum from PT symmetric modulation, we have demonstrated the unidirectional conversion from pump to second harmonic with desired guided modes. Our findings offer new opportunities for manipulating nonlinear optical fields with PT symmetry, which could further boost more exploration on on-chip nonlinear devices assisted by non-Hermitian optics.     

Collisional dynamics of symmetric two-dimensional quantum droplets

The collisional dynamics of two symmetric droplets with equal intraspecies scattering lengths and particle number density for each component is studied by solving the corresponding extended Gross−Pitaevskii equation in two dimensions by including a logarithmic correction term in the usual contact interaction. We find the merging droplet after collision experiences a quadrupole oscillation in its shape and the oscillation period is found to be independent of the incidental momentum for small droplets. With increasing collision momentum the colliding droplets may separate into two, or even more, and finally into small pieces of droplets. For these dynamical phases we manage to present boundaries determined by the remnant particle number in the central area and the damped oscillation of the quadrupole mode. A stability peak for the existence of droplets emerges at the critical particle numberN_c ≃ 48 for the quasi-Gaussian and flat-top shapes of the droplets.     

The emerging applications of pillararene architectures in supramolecular catalysis

Over the last decade, numerous research efforts have been devoted to pillar[n]arenes since their debut.The popularity of pillararenes is a reflection of current research trend in supramolecular and macrocyclic chemistry in general. Among the vast applications(such as chemosensors, drug delivery, transmembrance channels, and separation) of pillararenes, their utilization in catalysis is a relatively less explored area.However, soaring attention has been paid by researchers in recent years and thi...     

Insight into room-temperature catalytic oxidation of NO by CrO2(110): A DFT study

The first-principles DFT calculations together with microkinetic analysis reveal the complex catalytic mechanism of low-content NO oxidation on CrO₂(110) at room temperature. It quantitatively makes clear that CrO₂(110) can exhibit considerable activity with the Mars-van-Krevelen mechanism preferred, and the nitrate species serves as the key poisoning species.     

Chen's Reagent: A Versatile Reagent for Trifluoromethylation,Difluoromethylenation, and Difluoroalkylation in Organic Synthesis

Methyl fluorosulfonyldifluoroacetate(FSO2CF2CO2Me or MFSDA),often called"Chen's reagent",is commonly used to synthesize trifluoromethylated and difluoroalkylated compounds.This important reagent was initially developed as an efficient trifluoromethylating agent by Professor Qing-Yun Chen and co-workers at Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry,Chinese Academy of Sciences in 1989.