Anisotropic Transition Research Articles

Anisotropic nonlinear optical responses of Ta2NiS5 flake towards ultrafast logic gates and secure all-optical information transmission

Abstract Optical logic gates based on nonlinear optical property of material with ultrafast response speed and excellent computational processing power can break the performance bottleneck of electronic transistors. As one of the layered 2D materials, Ta2NiS5 exhibits high anisotropic mobility, exotic electrical response, and intriguing optical properties. Due to the low-symmetrical crystal structures, it possesses in-plane anisotropic physical properties. The optical absorption information of Ta2NiS5 is investigated by anisotropic linear absorption spectra, femtosecond laser intensity scanning (I-scan), and non-degenerate pump-probe technology. The I-scan results show a distinct maximum of ∼4.9 % saturable absorption (SA) and ∼4 % reverse saturable absorption (RSA) at different polarization directions of the incident laser. And, these unique nonlinear optical (NLO) properties originate from the anisotropic optical transition probability. Furthermore, the novel Ta2NiS5-based all-optical logic gates are proposed by manipulating the NLO absorption processes. And, the all-optical OR and NOR logic gates possess an ultrafast response speed approaching 1.7 THz. Meanwhile, an all-optical information transmission method with higher security and accuracy is achieved, which has promising potential to avoid the disclosure of information. This work provides a new path for designing versatile and novel optical applications based on Ta2NiS5 materials.

Infrequent trigonal crystal system CoNb thin films: investigation of growth behavior, microstructure and magnetic properties

Magnetic films with excellent initial permeability, high resonance frequency, suitable anisotropy fields, and well compatibility are highly desirable for on-chip inductors and transformers. Here, Co90Nb10 thin films with different thicknesses are grown on Si substrates of different orientations using an electron beam evaporation technique. A rare trigonal crystal structure of the CoNb films was observed and was virtually unaffected by substrate orientation. Films grown exhibit thickness-dependent magnetic behavior: coercivity initially decreases and then increases, while the in-plane anisotropy field progressively diminishes. Meanwhile, the initial permeability increases initially before decreasing, and the resonance frequency continuously decreases as the thickness increases. The resultant Co90Nb10/Si (111)-50 nm film displays a high μi of 496 and a great fr of 2.1GHz. The improved magnetic performance originates from the smaller crystallite size, smoother surface roughness, and suitable in-plane anisotropy field. Moreover, the in-plane anisotropy transition to the out-of-plane anisotropy in the Co90Nb10 films whose thickness exceeds 70nm, which is attributed to the growth of the coarse columnar grains once the critical thickness is exceeded. This study demonstrates the correlation between the growth behavior, microstructure, and magnetic properties of CoNb thin films, presenting a new potential for utilizing Co-based thin films in high-frequency applications.

Reconfigurable directional selective tunneling of p-type phonons in polarized elastic wave systems

There have been many studies on the ground state of phononic crystals, but few studies on the nature of the excited state. In this paper, we introduce the asymmetric Klein tunneling method in phononic systems, which enables selective direction and control of elastic waves by inducing polarization through an external field in an artificial barrier. Using tight-binding theory, we systematically studied phononics in a super-honeycomb structure, demonstrating the anisotropic transition properties of excited state phonons through a matrix model involving the ground state’s s-type and the first excited state’s p-type wave functions. Additionally, we exploit the thermal sensitivity of epoxy to achieve localized thermal field-induced distortion of the bottom flat band, forming a tiled Dirac cone, and thereby creating a reconfigurable polarized artificial barrier in the elastic wave system. Elastic waves propagate in these systems with topological charge conservation. Combining this with the theoretical of excited-state phonons, we demonstrate asymmetric Klein tunneling with directional selectivity in the elastic wave carriers, and systematically investigate the performance of this tunneling. Furthermore, we design a four-port elastic waveguide based on the principle of asymmetric tunneling, which achieves exceptional directional selectivity of elastic wave signals by adjusting the polarization direction of barriers at the junctions. These studies not only extend the application of Klein tunneling in elastic wave systems but also open new research avenues for the study of elastic wave devices controlled by various external fields, showing direct application potential in elastic wave signal processing.

In-plane and out-of-plane anisotropy in the optical and dielectric properties of YBa2Cu3O7-x superconducting film

YBa2Cu3O7-x (YBCO) is a crucial aspect of research in the field of superconducting applications, where its high anisotropy is generally undesirable in strong power transmission. However, from a dialectical perspective, a thorough investigation of material anisotropy can offer an additional degree of freedom to tune potential properties and design innovative devices. This work employed pulsed laser deposition to fabricate a high-quality YBCO thin film (Tc = 89 K) and used the Mueller matrix spectroscopic ellipsometer (MMSE) to determine the complete dielectric tensor of the YBCO film across the ultraviolet to near-infrared spectrum (245–1000 nm), enabling a comprehensive, quantitative study of the optical anisotropy of YBCO. It provided optical constants and dielectric function spectra for different axes. We found that YBCO exhibits birefringence and dichroism both in-plane and out-of-plane. By combining standard critical point (SCP) analysis and first-principles calculations, we identified specific interband transitions related to SCP in the YBCO dielectric spectra, revealing the physical essence of anisotropic optical transitions from a quantum mechanical standpoint. Temperature-dependent studies of the transitions and optical constants were conducted. The work fills a partial void in the optical parameters of the anisotropy of YBCO and holds relevance for understanding the origins of copper-based high-temperature superconductivity.

Anisotropic wettability transition on nanoterraced glass surface by Ar ions

Ion beam sputtering (IBS) can induce nanoripple patterns in a short time on variety of materials for wide range of applications. In this work, we describe the nanoripple as well as terrace pattern formation by IBS on soda-lime glass surfaces and the mechanisms leading to such pattern formations. The role of ion energy, ion fluence, and ion incidence angle on the morphology of the structural features is systematically explored. For a range of ion beam parameter values with energy varying from 600 to 1500 eV and fluence in the range 9.7 × 1017 to 2.0 × 1019 ions/cm2 at fixed incidence angle of 45°, transition of ripples to terraces has been observed. The experimental results are explained on the basis of recently modified KS equation which clearly explains the simultaneous role of nonlinear cubic term in the terrace formation. It is also demonstrated how ion beam can be used to tailor the wettability of glass surface and makes it hydrophobic in nature. Due to pattern formation, anisotropic hydrophobicity is observed showing an increasing trend owing to the magnification of the amplitude of nanopatterns developed on the surface.

In Situ Lattice-Resolution Revelation of the Origins of Unexplored Anisotropic Sodiation Kinetics and Phase Transition in the Niobium Sulfide Anode.

Layered transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) have exhibited huge potential as anode materials for sodium-ion batteries. Most of them usually store sodium via an intercalation-conversion mechanism, but niobium sulfide (NbS2) may be an exception. Herein, through in situ transmission electron microscopy, we carefully investigated the insertion behaviors of Na ions in NbS2 and directly visualized anisotropic sodiation kinetics. Lattice-resolution imaging coupled with density functional theory calculations reveals the preferential diffusion of Na ions within layers of NbS2, accompanied by observable interlayer lattice expansion. Impressively, the Na-inserted layers can still withstand in situ mechanical testing. Further in situ observation vertical to the a/b plane of NbS2 tracked the illusive conversion reaction, which could result from interlayer gliding or wrinkling associated with stress accumulation. In situ electron diffraction measurements ruled out the possibility of such a conversion mechanism and identified a phase transition from pristine 3R-NbS2 to 2H-NaNbS2. Therefore, the NbS2 anode stores Na ions via only the intercalation mechanism, which conceptually differs from the well-known intercalation-conversion mechanism of typical TMDs. These findings not only decipher the whole sodiation process of the NbS2 anode but also provide valuable reference for unraveling the precise sodium storage mechanism in other TMDs.

Molten flux growth of single crystals of quasi-1D hexagonal chalcogenide BaTiS3

BaTiS3, a quasi-1D complex chalcogenide, has gathered considerable scientific and technological interest due to its giant optical anisotropy and electronic phase transitions. However, the synthesis of high-quality BaTiS3 crystals, particularly those featuring crystal sizes of millimeters or larger, remains a challenge. Here, we investigate the growth of BaTiS3 crystals utilizing a molten salt flux of either potassium iodide, or a mixture of barium chloride and barium iodide. The crystals obtained through this method exhibit a substantial increase in volume compared to those synthesized via the chemical vapor transport method, while preserving their intrinsic optical and electronic properties. Our flux growth method provides a promising route toward the production of high-quality, large-scale single crystals of BaTiS3, which will greatly facilitate advanced characterizations of BaTiS3 and its practical applications that require large crystal dimensions. Additionally, our approach offers an alternative synthetic route for other emerging complex chalcogenides.Graphical

Critical behavior in the ferromagnet MgMn6Sn6 single crystal with HfFe6Ge6-type structure

A thorough investigation was carried out to analyze the magnetic critical properties of single crystals belonging to the HfFe6Ge6-type structure. MgMn6Sn6 exhibit a ferromagnetic transition below TC ≈ 300 K. The magnetization measurements were analyzed around the phase transition temperature of this ferromagnetic material for two different orientations: H//ab and H//c. Using Kouvel‐Fisher method, we can determine critical exponents β, γ, and δ in this study. To evaluate accuracy of these values, the scaling equation m=f±(h) and Widom scaling law δ=1+γ/β were applied. Critical exponents γ = 1.191 ± 0.007 at TC = 300.92 K, β = 0.326 ± 0.003 at TC = 300.96 K, and δ = 4.653 with TC ≈ 300 K indicate that the three-dimensional Ising model (β = 0.325, γ = 1.24, and δ = 4.82) is the better model for H//ab. The mean‐field and 3D‐Heisenberg models were the best models below TC and above TC for H//c, respectively. The MgMn6Sn6 single crystal exhibits a notable anisotropic transition in its magnetic phase according to all experimental findings. The presence of an anisotropic state with short-range order in the ferromagnetic system are revealed by analyzing electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy. Our research provides experimental proof of a holistic comprehension regarding the magnetic phase-transition characteristics demonstrated by MgMn6Sn6.

Cooperatively tuning magnetic anisotropy and colossal magnetoresistance via atomic-scale buffer layers in highly strained La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 films

Achieving simultaneous control over multiple functional properties, such as magnetic anisotropy, magnetoresistance, and metal-insulator transition, with atomic precision remains a major challenge for realizing advanced spintronic functionalities. Here, we demonstrate a unique approach to cooperatively tune these multiple functional properties in highly strained La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 (LSMO) thin films. By inserting varying perovskite buffer layers, compressively strained LSMO films transition from a ferromagnetic insulator with out-of-plane magnetic anisotropy to a metallic state with in-plane anisotropy. Remarkably, atomic-scale control of the buffer layer thickness enables precise tuning of this magnetic and electronic phase transformation. We achieve a colossal magnetoresistance tuning of 10,000% and an exceptionally sharp transition from out-of-plane to in-plane magnetic anisotropy within just a few atomic layers. These results demonstrate an unprecedented level of control over multiple functional properties, paving the way for the rational design of multifunctional oxide spintronic devices.

Site-selective etching and conversion of bismuth-based Metal–Organic frameworks by oxyanions enables efficient and selective adsorption via robust coordination bonding

Anisotropic etching and conversion of MOF micro/nanostructures results in innovative structures and regulates properties. However, the anisotropic higher-order construction of MOFs remains a major challenge. Here, for the first time, we report the preparation of two unprecedented Bi-MOF (CAU-17) derivative structures via facile chemical etching and simultaneous conversion on solid CAU-17 microrods by reaction with Te- and Se-containing oxyanions. The TeOx2−-mediated hollow tubular structures are obtained via unique splitting, self-welding, and dissolution processes, a tube-forming mechanism never before seen in MOFs. In comparison, SeOx2− ions tend to etch CAU-17 into hierarchical sponge-like structures assembled from fine nanoparticles. DFT calculations, XANES modeling, and EXAFS fittings suggest that the site-selective coordination of oxyanions with Bi-O bonds in the Bi-MOF forms robust Bi-O-Te/Se bonds, which in turn leads to an anisotropic structural transition of CAU-17. More interestingly, benefiting from the coordination bond-dominated conversion, CAU-17 is shown to be a superior adsorbent for the selective and irreversible capture of highly radiotoxic oxyanions containing Te and Se from wastewater. These findings provide new insights into the anisotropic etching and conversion mechanism of MOFs by oxyanions and a fundamental understanding for designing advanced MOF-based guest oxyanion adsorbents.

PH dependence of perturbed angular correlation in DOTA chelated 111\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$^{111}$$\\end{document}In measured with ring-shape gamma-ray detectors

The conventional nuclear medical imaging, such as PET and SPECT, visualizes the accumulation of radioisotopes in the human body and has been widely used for diagnosis of cancer and other diseases. Perturbed angular correlation is a powerful sensing tool detecting local electro-magnetic environment and has been used for chemical analysis or nuclear physics research. The use of perturbed angular correlation in nuclear medicine is recently proposed and pH sensing capability with liquid 111\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$^{111}$$\\end{document}In has been confirmed. In more practical applications, DOTA based radioisotope labeled drug delivery is common in nuclear medicine. This study aims to characterize the pH dependance of perturbed angular correlation in Psyche-DOTA chelated 111\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$^{111}$$\\end{document}In with the custom ring-shape gamma-ray detectors. The observed transition in anisotropy of cascade gamma-ray emission can contribute to the detection of a specific phenomenon changing pH inside the human body.

Dual Higgs modes entangled into a soliton lattice in CuTe

Recently discovered Higgs particle is a key element in the standard model of elementary particles and its analogue in materials, massive Higgs mode, has elucidated intriguing collective phenomena in a wide range of materials with spontaneous symmetry breaking such as antiferromagnets, cold atoms, superconductors, superfluids, and charge density waves (CDW). As a straightforward extension beyond the standard model, multiple Higgs particles have been considered theoretically but not yet for Higgs modes. Here, we report the real-space observations, which suggest two Higgs modes coupled together with a soliton lattice in a solid. Our scanning tunneling microscopy reveals the 1D CDW state of an anisotropic transition metal monochalcogenide crystal CuTe is composed of two distinct but degenerate CDW structures by the layer inversion symmetry broken. More importantly, the amplitudes of each CDW structure oscillate in an out-of-phase fashion to result in a regular array of alternating domains with repeating phase-shift domain walls. This unusual finding is explained by the extra degeneracy in CDWs within the standard Landau theory of the free energy. The multiple and entangled Higgs modes demonstrate how novel collective modes can emerge in systems with distinct symmetries broken simultaneously.

Architecture Controls Phonon Propagation in All-Solid Brush Colloid Metamaterials.

Brillouin light scattering and elastodynamic theory are concurrently used to determine and interpret the hypersonic phonon dispersion relations in brush particle solids as a function of the grafting density with perspectives in optomechanics, heat management, and materials metrology. In the limit of sparse grafting density, the phonon dispersion relations bear similarity to polymer-embedded colloidal assembly structures in which phonon dispersion can be rationalized on the basis of perfect boundary conditions, i.e., isotropic stiffness transitions across the particle interface. In contrast, for dense brush assemblies, more complex dispersion characteristics are observed that imply anisotropic stiffness transition across the particle/polymer interface. This provides direct experimental validation of phonon propagation changes associated with chain conformational transitions in dense particle brush materials. A scaling relation between interface tangential stiffness and crowding of polymer tethers is derived that provides a guideline for chemists to design brush particle materials with tailored phononic dispersion characteristics. The results emphasize the role of interfaces in composite materials systems. Given the fundamental relevance of phonon dispersion to material properties such as thermal transport or mechanical properties, it is also envisioned that the results will spur the development of novel functional hybrid materials.

Transition Temperature in Thermochromic Liquid Crystals using Second-Order Features Extraction

<p>Liquid crystals are a type of substance that has solid and liquid properties. One of the types of it is cholesteric. Cholesteric liquid crystals have a characteristic which is called pitch. Pitch is very sensitive to changes in temperature. The pitch will reflect different colors depending on the wavelength at a particular temperature. Thermochromic Liquid Crystals (TLC) is the cholesteric liquid crystals material sold commercially. At the transitional temperature, the texture of TLC changes, so the reflected color will also change. Second-order feature extraction was chosen to determine the change in texture with the transition temperature. The TLC layer was made by thickness of 100 µm. This layer was heated and observed using a polarizing microscope with an angle between the polarizer and analyzer of 90<sup>o</sup>. The obtained result are cross patterns emerged at anisotropic transition temperature and higher temperature on TLC will lead to an isotropic phase.<em></em></p>

Electric field-controlled deterministic magnetization reversal in nanomagnet Fe3Si/PMN-PT multiferroic heterostructures

Pure electric field-controlled 180° magnetization switching plays a vital role in low-power magnetoelectric memory devices. Using micromagnetic simulation, we engineered a square-shaped epitaxial Fe3Si nanomagnet on a PMN-PT piezoelectric substrate to make the magnetic easy axis slightly deviate 18° from the piezostrain axis, aiming to break the symmetry of the magnetization distribution and achieve deterministic magnetization reversal paths. Under the coaction of a magnetic field and an electric field, the simulated magnetic hysteresis loops and magnetic domain patterns reveal a fourfold to twofold magnetic anisotropy transition and magnetization reversal paths. Stimulated by pure electric field-induced piezoelectric strain, deterministic 180° magnetization reversals are accomplished by the two successive clockwise 90° switching process. The results help to comprehend electrically regulated deterministic magnetization reversal and pave an avenue for designing multistate spintronics devices.

Chimera states in a chain of superdiffusively coupled neurons.

Two- and three-component systems of superdiffusion equations describing the dynamics of action potential propagation in a chain of non-locally interacting neurons with Hindmarsh-Rose nonlinear functions have been considered. Non-local couplings based on the fractional Laplace operator describing superdiffusion kinetics are found to support chimeras. In turn, the system with local couplings, based on the classical Laplace operator, shows synchronous behavior. For several parameters responsible for the activation properties of neurons, it is shown that the structure and evolution of chimera states depend significantly on the fractional Laplacian exponent, reflecting non-local properties of the couplings. For two-component systems, an anisotropic transition to full incoherence in the parameter space responsible for non-locality of the first and second variables is established. Introducing a third slow variable induces a gradual transition to incoherence via additional chimera states formation. We also discuss the possible causes of chimera states formation in such a system of non-locally interacting neurons and relate them with the properties of the fractional Laplace operator in a system with global coupling.

Anisotropic Amorphization and Phase Transition in Na2 Ti3 O7 Anode Caused by Electron Beam Irradiation.

Na2 Ti3 O7 is considered one of the most promising anode materials for sodium ion batteries due to its superior safety, environmental friendliness, and low manufacturing cost. However, its structural stability and reaction mechanism still have not been fully explored. As the electron beam irradiation introduces a similar impact on the Na2 Ti3 O7 anode as the extraction of Na+ ions during the battery discharge process, the microstructure evolution of the materials is investigated by advanced electron microscopy techniques at the atomic scale. Anisotropic amorphization is successfully observed. Through the integrated differential phase contrast-scanning transmission electron microscopy technique and density functional theory calculation, a phase transition pathway involving a new phase, Na2 Ti24 O49 , is proposed with the reduction of Na atoms. Additionally, it is found that the amorphization is dominated by the surface energy and electron dose rate. These findings will deepen the understanding of structural stability and deintercalation mechanism of the Na2 Ti3 O7 anode, providing new insight into exploring the failure mechanism of electrode materials.

In-situ manifestation of the anisotropic structural thermodynamic transition of deuterated potassium dihydrogen phosphate under a strong electromagnetic field

The interaction between light and matter is a fundamental issue in nature, accompanied by the transfer of different kinds of energy and phase transitions. The discovery of the thermodynamic transition processes under strong irradiations could trigger novel phenomena and inspire the understanding of the interaction process, but it is still a challenge to observe in-situ. In this work, with the deuterated potassium dihydrogen phosphate (DKDP) crystal as a representative, the structural thermodynamic transition processes are originally investigated by introducing the in-situ neutron diffraction technique. The chemical bond fracture and breaking are found to be anisotropic, but suppressing, the destruction is not synchronous, which firstly presents the cumulative effect of energy in the structure and clarifies the relationship of the microcosmic chemical bonds and macroscopical destructions. Our results not only have important reference significance for understanding the research and development of materials under strong fields but also play an important role in understanding the physical processes of the interaction between light and matter.

Magnetocaloric and hydrogen storage multi-functional properties of Eu4Ga8Ge16 compounds

We investigated the anisotropic magnetic, electrical transport, and heat capacity of Eu4Ga8Ge16 single crystals. Magnetization measurements with temperature and magnetic field revealed a complex behavior. Specifically, we observed anisotropic metamagnetic transitions at low magnetic field, and inverse hysteresis at high magnetic fields. These phenomena can be attributed to a Heisenberg ferromagnetic spin chain aligned along the a-axis. Additionally, this ferromagnetic behavior is interspersed with antiferromagnetic interactions between adjacent Heisenberg spin chains. We also noticed an anomalous increase in electrical resistivity at low temperature under magnetic fields, as well as different temperature-exponents of ρ(T) depending on crystal directions, which are attributed to the anisotropic scattering of carriers due to anisotropic magnetic interactions. We also evaluated the magnetocaloric effect and found a substantial magnetic entropy change than those of type-I Eu-based clathrates. The high entropy change (-ΔSM = 13.5 J kg−1 K−1) and adiabatic temperature difference (ΔTad = 7.8 K) near Néel temperature TN = 7.9 K reveal that the Heisenberg spin chain system might be advantageous for inducing a larger magnetic entropy change. Furthermore, we measured the hydrogen storage capacity of Eu4Ga8Ge16 as a multifunctional property because the zeolite-like cage structure can be a good candidate for hydrogen storage applications. Although the hydrogen storage capacity is considerably lower than that of the leading-edge materials, the hydrogen storage capacity can be improved further when we control the Eu-deficiency to place the hydrogen molecule at the cage site, because the hydrogen molecules reside at the (Ga,Ge) framework not in the cage site for fully occupied Eu atomic chain compounds. Hence, Eu4Ga8Ge16 emerges as a versatile substrate for engineering multifunctional energy materials, excelling in both low-temperature magnetocaloric effects and hydrogen storage potential.

Sensitivity-matrix-based identification of anisotropic elastic constants and microstructure features in plasma sprayed coatings utilizing ultrasonic back-reflection

With the unique lamellar microstructure, macroscopic elasticity of plasma sprayed coatings shows either positive or inverse anisotropy due to complex microstructure of inter-layer pores and intra-layer cracks. It is extremely difficult to nondestructively evaluate anisotropic elastic constants of these coatings with thin thickness. Moreover, it is an absolute challenge to reveal the elastic anisotropy transitions between positive and inverse. It is also difficult to clarify the nonlinear relationship between macroscopic elasticity and microstructure, which is necessary for microstructural identification. In present work, a sensitivity-matrix-based method was developed to determine five independent elastic constants of plasma sprayed coating by ultrasonic back-reflection method, with the relative errors of inverted elastic constants less than 1.33 %. Then, an optimized physical-descriptor-based microstructure characterization and reconstruction method was proposed to model “pore and crack” coatings with different microstructural features, and relative errors of microstructural features between the reconstructed and preset values were less than 4.35 %. Based on above, the dependences between six microstructural features and elastic constants were established. The inverse elastic anisotropy was explained systematically as the increase of vertical crack content, the “roundness” of horizontal pore and its “weakening” preferred orientation. Finally, the sensitivity-matrix-based method was used to simultaneously identify the porosity, crack content, pore average aspect ratio, pore orientation factor, and crack orientation factor of plasma sprayed Al2O3 coating based on elastic constants inverted. The relative errors in these identifications were less than 14.85 %. This work provides a new sensitivity-matrix-based solving strategy for multi-parameter integrated quantitative identification of complex microstructural features in materials.