The stability and efficient electrical control of chiral spin textures (CSTs) is critical for their implementation in racetrack device architectures. Three principal properties determine the utility of material platforms for spin-texture dynamics: perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA), Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction (DMI), and spin Hall angle (SHA). Notwithstanding individual studies, a comprehensive benchmarking of these key interactions across racetrack-compatible material systems remains lacking. Here, we systematically evaluate tunnel-readout compatible HM/CoFeB/MgO trilayers fabricated using wafer-scale techniques. Their key properties—PMA, DMI, and SHA—were characterized across four heavy metals (Pt, W, Ta, and Ir) and two CoFeB compositions using magnetometry, spectroscopy, and transport techniques, respectively. Our results reveal that the W-based stacks exhibit robust PMA and high SHA, while the Pt-based stacks provide the strongest DMI. Notably, both DMI and SHA depend strongly on both heavy metal and CoFeB composition, underscoring the critical role of alloy engineering in controlling interfacial magnetic properties. Our work provides quantitative benchmarks and materials design principles for developing next-generation CST-based racetrack devices.

We demonstrate the epitaxial growth of tetragonal platinum monoxide (PtO) on MgO, TiO2, and β-Ga2O3 single-crystalline substrates by ozone molecular-beam epitaxy. We provide synthesis routes and derive a growth diagram under which PtO films can be synthesized by physical vapor deposition. A combination of electrical transport and photoemission spectroscopy measurements, in conjunction with density functional theory calculations, reveal PtO to be a degenerately doped p-type semiconductor with a bandgap of Eg ≈ 1.6 eV. Spectroscopic ellipsometry measurements are used to extract the complex dielectric function spectra, indicating a transition from free-carrier absorption to higher photon energy transitions at E ≈ 1.6 eV. Using tetragonal PtO as an anode contact, we fabricate prototype Schottky diodes on n-type Sn-doped β-Ga2O3 substrates and extract Schottky barrier heights of ϕB > 2.2 eV.

Recent advances in medical diagnostics have highlighted the importance of wearable technologies for continuous and real-time physiological monitoring. In this study, we introduce a flexible, self-powered triboelectric nanogenerator (MB-TENG) engineered from commercially available medical elastic bandages for biomechanical sensing during rehabilitation and gait analysis. Leveraging the porous and skin-friendly properties of the bandage combined with a polytetrafluoroethylene film, the MB-TENG delivers robust electrical performance—achieving a peak open-circuit voltage (VOC) of 122 V, a short-circuit current (ISC) of 25 μA, and a transferred charge (QSC) of 110 nC—while maintaining long-term stability across 40 000 mechanical cycles. Its inherent self-adhesive property allows for multilayer assembly without the need for extra bonding agents, and mechanical stretching enhances output, enabling dual configurability. A stacked design further improves the power capacity, supporting applications in wearable medical electronics. The MB-TENG device seamlessly conforms to joint surfaces and foot regions, providing accurate detection of motion states and abnormal gait patterns. These features underscore the MB-TENG’s potential as a low-cost, scalable platform for personalized rehabilitation, injury monitoring, and early musculoskeletal diagnosis.

The cracking and local strain relaxation in (010) (AlxGa1−x)2O3 films grown on Ga2O3 substrates are assessed in terms of film composition and thickness. We utilize x-ray diffraction and electron microscopy techniques combined with simulation and modeling to investigate that film cracking on curvature (flatness) has a directly proportional relationship with film thickness and/or aluminum content. Cross section transmission electron microscopy reveals that cracks along both the (001) and (100) cleavage planes penetrate into the substrate. The diffuse scattered intensity observed in reciprocal space maps (RSMs) is directly correlated with the tilt that is introduced due to the change in the deformation conditions near the cracks. While asymmetric RSMs show that the layers are fully strained, the diffuse scattering distribution in reciprocal space can be interpreted to show that the cracking relaxes and locally tilts the lattice ∼350 nm from the crack edges, which is consistent with the larger radius of curvature associated with the films with higher crack densities. For example, a 200 nm (Al0.13Ga0.87)2O3 thick film has an average inter-crack spacing of 3.3 µm, so most of the epitaxial layer is fully strained except near the cracks where it deforms elastically and is consistent with the gallium oxide Poisson ratio. A reciprocal space model was developed, which imports the strain and tilt distributions (based on finite element modeling) to match the features observed in the experimental maps. We also note that previous studies involving (AlxGa1−x)2O3 films may show evidence of cracking as observed in their symmetric and asymmetric RSMs.

A key challenge in material delivery systems is ensuring the enhanced durability to prevent moisture loss and controlled dispersion of capsules carrying agents. This study introduces octadecylamine-functionalized graphene oxide with carbonyl iron particles (ODA-GO/CIP) capsules, synthesized via a microfluidic technique to enhance moisture retention and magnetic responsiveness. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy confirmed successful ODA-GO/CIP integration. Experiments showed an 8% increase in magnetic properties and a 693-fold improvement in water storage compared to pure CIP capsules. Under a magnetic field, these capsules exhibited significantly enhanced dispersion.

Spinel materials offer excellent physical, optical, and biomedical properties, particularly in epitaxial form. However, spinel electrode materials for these epitaxial films are limited. While NiCo2O4 (NCO) is a high-performing conductive spinel, it loses conductivity above 400 °C, making it unsuitable as an electrode for overgrown functional spinel layers, which typically require growth above 600 °C. Here, we demonstrate the stabilization of conducting NCO through the overgrowth of a functional spinel CoFe2O4 (CFO) layer. Notably, when the NCO is capped with 625 °C-grown CFO, it retains most of the conductivity of 350 °C-grown films. The overgrowth approach of this work shows a path for NCO to be used as a conducting electrode in epitaxial spinel-based epitaxial devices.

The advancement of functional hydrogels and the growing use of intelligent wearable sensors in sports have attracted increasing research interest. Here, a high-performance triboelectric nanogenerator (alginate/PSS/CMC-Na-based triboelectric nanogenerator, APC-TENG) is developed by integrating a Zn2+-cross-linked alginate/PSS/CMC-Na hydrogel with PDMS/SiO2 composite films. The hydrogel provides ionic conductivity and mechanical resilience, while the composite films enhance charge trapping and environmental stability. Benefiting from this structure, the APC-TENG delivers an open-circuit voltage (VOC) of 164 V, a short-circuit current (ISC) of 32 μA, a transferred charge (QSC) of 136 nC at 2 Hz, and a maximum power of 3.3 mW at 3 MΩ. The device maintains stable performance over 7500 cycles and under varying humidity conditions. Beyond stability, it is integrated into wearable and sports platforms for self-powered monitoring of human activities, including walking, running, and joint bending, as well as basketball-specific motions such as pressing, dribbling, and shooting. These results demonstrate the potential of APC-TENG as a reliable energy harvester and intelligent motion sensor for wearable electronics, sports training, and human–machine interaction.

Atomic-scale processing and precise control of superconducting thin films are essential for the advancement and large-scale implementation of superconducting quantum technologies. Consequently, detailed analysis of the structural features and elemental composition of such superconducting films is a key element in developing highly sensitive and efficient superconducting nanowire single photon detectors. In this work, we use advanced techniques in scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), specifically 4-dimensional STEM (4DSTEM) and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS), to analyze the structure and chemistry of two few-nanometer-thick films of NbN and NbTiN deposited by plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition. Digital dark field imaging is used to image the crystalline core of the films, separate from the silicon substrate and protective platinum overlayer, and the data are used for quantitative measurement of lattice parameters. EELS mapping correlates the structural data with local chemistry and indicates the coexistence of superconducting NbC within the films. Crystalline rock-salt structured carbonitrides are found in both cases, and their lattice parameters can be accurately and reliably measured from hundreds of datapoints from different pixels in the scan area. These correlate well with the expected chemical composition. Both films feature a Si–N rich reaction layer, with Ti also present in NbTiN films. Interestingly, significant diffusion seems to occur in both films, differing from the atomic-layer sharpness sometimes presumed. Nevertheless, the presence of a continuous film with an appropriate structure and composition confirms that the process is suitable for superconducting applications, although further optimization could improve interface control and composition.

Recently, a two-dimensional ferromagnet FePd2Te2 exhibiting easy-plane anisotropy with a quasi-one-dimensional spin system has been discovered. We report the magnetic critical behavior and magnetocaloric effect of FePd2Te2 single crystals with magnetic fields applied both in-plane and out-of-plane. Conventional iterative methods failed to determine the critical exponents of the material. Using a modified iterative method, we obtained two sets of critical exponents on both sides of the critical temperature TC: for the in-plane magnetic field direction, β−=0.7155 and γ−=1.0255 below TC and β+=0.6205 and γ+=0.9005 above TC. The reliability of the estimated critical exponents is confirmed through scaling analysis. Under a 7 T magnetic field applied near TC, the maximum entropy change (−ΔSMmax) is 1.38 J kg−1 K−1 and the relative cooling power (RCP) is 73.95 J kg−1. The critical exponents extracted using the magnetic entropy scaling analysis exhibit good consistency with those obtained from the analysis of magnetization isotherms. The renormalization group theory analysis of the critical exponents reveals that FePd2Te2 exhibits long-range magnetic interactions intermediate between the 3D Heisenberg model and mean-field model, displaying weak itinerant ferromagnetism due to the presence of itinerant electrons.