Interfacial strain-mediated magnetoelectric coupling as reflected in extended X-ray absorption spectra of CoFe2O4-dispersed Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 matrix composites

An atomic-scale picture of the strain-mediated magnetoelectric (ME) coupling is delineated by carefully examining the effect of an applied electric field on the extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectra of a CoFe₂O₄-dispersed Pb(Zr,Ti)O₃ matrix (CFO-PZT) composite. These studies demonstrated a tensile-compressive strain relation between the PZT matrix and the dispersed CFO phase, thereby providing an X-ray spectroscopic evidence of the interfacial strain-mediated ME coupling. Both the dielectric anomaly observed at ∼480 °C and the decrease in the remanent magnetization under an applied electric field support the strain-mediated ME coupling in the CFO-PZT composite.     

Temperature-induced magnetization reversal and ultra-fast magnetic switch at low field in SmFeO3

We have found that SmFeO₃, a family of rare-earth orthoferrites, exhibits temperature-induced magnetization reversal below the critical low-temperature along the a-axis of Pbnm symmetry. First-principles calculations demonstrate that this negative magnetization is mainly attributed to the competition between two magnetocrystalline anisotropy terms in the inequivalent magnetic sites of Sm³⁺ and Fe³⁺. Interestingly, the room temperature magnetization-field curve further shows an ultra-fast magnetization switch in the low-magnetic field, suggesting a potential applicability to high-speed magnetic switching devices.     

Local spin reversal and associated magnetic responses in Ga-substituted Pb-hexaferrites

We have studied magnetic structure and properties of Ga-substituted Pb-hexaferrites having the stoichiometry of PbFe_12−xGa_xO₁₉ with x=6 (i.e., Fe:Ga=1:1). According to the neutron diffraction results, this compound is characterized by a collinear spin structure below its Curie temperature (∼325 K). Analysis of the neutron diffraction patterns further indicates that the magnetic-moment direction of Fe³⁺ ions located at the octahedral 2a sublattice is downward while that of the unsubstituted PbFe₁₂O₁₉ is upward at room temperature. With decreasing temperature, the Fe³⁺ magnetic moment at the octahedral 2a sublattice undergoes a reorientation to the upward direction while that of the unsubstituted PbFe₁₂O₁₉ remains upward down to 5 K. This selective local spin reversal at the 2a sublattice of PbFe₆Ga₆O₁₉ was attributed to the weakening of the superexchange interaction between the octahedral 2a site and the tetrahedral 4f_IV site upon the preferential substitution of Ga ions for Fe ions at these two neighboring sites. Comparison of the neutron diffraction results with dc magnetization responses and ac susceptibilities further indicates that the paramagnetic–ferrimagnetic transition at ∼325 K (T_c) is followed by the local spin reversal at lower temperatures.     

Highly concentrated toluene decomposition on the dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma-photocatalytic hybrid system with Mn-Ti-incorporated mesoporous silicate photocatalyst (Mn-Ti-MPS)

This study investigates the Mn-Ti-incorporated mesoporous silicate (Mn-Ti-MPS) as a photocatalyst for highly concentrated toluene removal in a plasma-photocatalytic hybrid system. Various Mn-Ti-MPS [Ti/Si molar ratio = 1/4, Mn/Ti molar ratio = 0.01/1 (1 mol%), 0.05/1 (5 mol%) and 0.1/1 (10 mol%)] photocatalysts were successfully synthesized using a common hydrothermal method without causing any structural damage. In the X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern, the main peaks of the TiO₂ anatase structure and MnO did not show. All samples displayed hexagonal specific peaks at 2.5° (d_1 0 0 plane), 4.1° (d_1 1 0 plane) and 4.7° (d_2 0 0 plane). This indicates that the Ti ions and Mn ions were well substituted into the Si ion sites in the framework of MCM-41. Their surface areas decreased compared with that of pure MCM-41, while the hexagonal straight pore size was distributed in a range of 2.5-3.5 nm. In the Mn-Ti-MPS, much more water and toluene molecules were absorbed compared to the Ti-MPS. From the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) result, it was determined that the hydrophilicity of the Mn-Ti-MPS was stronger than that of the Ti-MPS. Photocatalytic decomposition for highly concentrated toluene of 1000 ppm increased in the Mn-Ti-MPS when compared with the Ti-MPS, while toluene decomposition on 5 mol% Mn-Ti-MPS was remarkably enhanced to 80% in the plasma system. The conversion to CO₂, however, did not improve in the case of the plasma-only system. Nonetheless, in the plasma-photocatalytic hybrid system, the conversion to CO₂ for 5 mol% Mn-Ti-MPS reached 43% (in an 800 ppm toluene conversion).     

Overexpression of Endogenous Xylose Reductase Enhanced Xylitol Productivity at 40 °C by Thermotolerant Yeast Kluyveromyces marxianus

Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology - Xylitol is a valuable substance utilized by food and biochemical industries. NAD(P)H-dependent xylose reductase (XR)—encoded by the yeast KmXYL1...     

Promotion of hydrocarbon selectivity in CO2 hydrogenation by Ru component

We investigated catalytic behavior of iron in CO₂ hydrogenation with and without a ruthenium component. Calcined iron-based catalysts were reduced by H₂ and characterized by XRD, BET surface area and CO₂, CO and C₂H₄ temperature-programmed desorption (TPD), and tested for CO₂ hydrogenation. When Fe-K/γ-Al₂O₃ was used as a catalyst, CO₂ conversion was 36%, but when Fe-Ru-K/γ-Al₂O₃ was used, CO₂ conversion was 41%. The product selectivities for catalysts with and without the ruthenium component were also compared. Fe-K/γ-Al₂O₃ exhibited higher methane (16 mol%) and C₂–C₄ selectivity (39.6 mol%) than Fe-Ru-K/γ-Al₂O₃. The main products obtained with Fe-Ru-K/γ-Al₂O₃ were higher hydrocarbons such as C₅⁺ hydrocarbons. For Fe-Ru-K/γ-Al₂O_3, the product distribution followed the Anderson–Schultz–Flory (ASF) distribution. However, in the case of Fe-Ru-K/γ-Al₂O₃, the hydrocarbon distribution deviates from the ideal ASF distribution. It is concluded that the readsorption rates of the primary hydrocarbon product increase exponentially with chain length in the ruthenium promoted catalytic system. The behavior of catalysts with and without the ruthenium will be explained by the CO₂-, CO- and C₂H₄– profiles. In this study, it was confirmed that ruthenium component promoted the readsorption ability of -olefin, and then the chain length of hydrocarbon is higher. In addition, the microcrystalline wax produced in CO₂ hydrogenation was a high-crystalline and olefin-rich hydrocarbon.     

Sol–gel synthesis,characterization and photocatalytic activity of mesoporous TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>/γ-Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3 </Subscript>granules

Mesoporous TiO₂/γ-Al₂O₃ composite granules were prepared by combining sol–gel/oil-drop method, using various titania solution. The product granules can be used as a photocatalyst or adsorbent in moving, fluidized bed reactors. The phase composition and pore structure of the granules can be controlled by calcination temperature and using different titania solution. In the photocatalysis of NH₃ decomposition, TiO₂/γ-Al₂O₃ granules using Degussa P25 powder treated thermally at 450 °C showed the highest catalytic ability. However, TiO₂/γ-Al₂O₃ granules using titania made by hydrothermal method had comparable performance in NH₃ decomposition.     

Structurally tailored hexagonal ferroelectricity and multiferroism in epitaxial YbFeO3 thin-film heterostructures

Multiferroics have received a great deal of attention because of their fascinating physics of order-parameter cross-couplings and their potential for enabling new device paradigms. Considering the rareness of multiferroic materials, we have been exploring the possibility of artificially imposing ferroelectricity by structurally tailoring antiferromagnets in thin-film forms. YbFeO(3) (YbFO hereafter), a family of centrosymmetric rare-earth orthoferrites, is known to be nonferroelectric (space group Pnma). Here we report that a YbFO thin-film heterostructure fabricated by adopting a hexagonal template surprisingly exhibits nonferroelastic ferroelectricity with the Curie temperature of 470 K. The observed ferroelectricity is further characterized by an extraordinary two-step polarization decay, accompanied by a pronounced magnetocapacitance effect near the lower decay temperature, ~225 K. According to first-principles calculations, the hexagonal P6(3)/mmc-P6(3)mc-P6(3)cm consecutive transitions are primarily responsible for the observed two-step polarization decay, and the ferroelectricity originates from the c-axis-oriented asymmetric Yb 5d(z(2))-O 2p(z) orbital hybridization. Temperature-dependent magnetization curves further reveal an interesting phenomenon of spontaneous magnetization reversal at 83 K, which is attributed to the competition between two distinct magnetocrystalline anisotropy terms, Fe 3d and Yb 4f moments.