Condensed-matter physics articles within Communications Materials

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  • Article
    | Open Access

    The presence of flat bands near the Fermi energy may lead to an increase in electron correlations and result in unconventional states. Here, non-Fermi liquid behavior and anomalous superconductivity, with a nonmonotonic two-dome-like doping dependence, are observed in Sc2Ir4-xSix and attributed to spin-orbit-coupling driven flat bands.

    • Zhengyan Zhu
    • , Yuxiang Wu
    •  & Hai-Hu Wen

  • Article
    | Open Access

    3D skyrmion strings are topological spin textures promising for spintronics applications, but their manipulation and dynamics are challenging to understand. Here, high-resolution 3D phase imaging reveals the melting dynamics of metastable skyrmions, accompanied by the emergence of (anti)hedgehogs, in (Fe,Ni,Pd)3P and FeGe helimagnets.

    • Xiuzhen Yu
    • , Nobuto Nakanishi
    •  & Yoshinori Tokura

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Rare-earth engineering is an effective way to introduce and tune magnetism in topological materials. Here, titanium-based kagome metals RETi3Bi4 (RE = Yb, Pr, and Nd) are synthesized and characterized, whereby changing the rare earth atoms in zig-zag chains the magnetism can be tuned from nonmagnetic YbTi3Bi4 to short-range ordered PrTi3Bi4 and finally to ferromagnetic NdTi3Bi4.

    • Long Chen
    • , Ying Zhou
    •  & Gang Wang

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Silicon spin qubits are promising for the realisation of scalable quantum computing platforms but their coherence times in natural silicon are limited by the non-zero nuclear spin of the 29Si isotope. Here, enriched 28 Si down to 2.3 ppm residual 29Si is obtained by focused ion beam implantation.

    • Ravi Acharya
    • , Maddison Coke
    •  & Richard J. Curry

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Nonlinear memory devices such as memristors, memcapacitors, and meminductors, are the building blocks of energy-efficient neuromorphic computing. Here, the authors propose a superconducting circuit design acting as a microwave quantum memcapacitor, which could be implemented in neuromorphic quantum computing architectures.

    • Xinyu Qiu
    • , Shubham Kumar
    •  & Francisco Albarrán-Arriagada

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The tetragonal tungsten bronzes are promising for high-temperature energy storage applications but the mechanisms for their broad dielectric responses are unclear. Here, a comprehensive experimental and theoretical study of Sr2NaNb5O15 explains its two large dielectric anomalies in terms of structural transitions.

    • Jeremiah P. Tidey
    • , Urmimala Dey
    •  & Mark S. Senn

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Ternary alloys of rare-earths and transition metals exhibit complex ferrimagnetic behavior as a function of alloy compositions. Here, X-ray magnetic circular dichroism of the Gd6(Mn1−xFex)23 series is used to explain the composition dependence of sublattice Curie temperatures in terms of element-specific magnetic moment evolution.

    • Truc Ly Nguyen
    • , Thomas Mazet
    •  & Ashish Chainani

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Magnetic Josephson junctions are important for studying the interplay between superconductivity and ferromagnetism. Here, an inverse proximity effect with tunable nanoscale spin ordering at the superconductor/ferromagnet interface of Nb-permalloy structures is observed, confirming theoretical predictions on these systems.

    • Roberta Satariano
    • , Anatoly Fjodorovich Volkov
    •  & Davide Massarotti

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Commercial adiabatic demagnetisation refrigerators are typically based on hydrated salts that are subject to corrosion and have poor thermal conductivity and low entropy at sub-Kelvin temperatures. Here, YbNi1.6Sn is identified as a metallic magnetocaloric which retains high entropy into the 100 mK regime, providing an economical and durable alternative to magnetic refrigeration.

    • Thomas Gruner
    • , Jiasheng Chen
    •  & F. Malte Grosche

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The recent claim of near-ambient superconductivity in nitrogen-doped lutetium hydrides has sparked great excitement and strong controversies in the community. Here, a comprehensive first-principles calculations study predicts the stability and critical temperatures of Lu-N-H compounds based on their composition and applied pressure.

    • Yue-Wen Fang
    • , Đorđe Dangić
    •  & Ion Errea

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The Dicke model, describing the cooperative coupling of an ensemble of two-level atoms with a single-mode light field, has a rich phenomenology in quantum optics and quantum information, but its analytical or numerical solution is beyond current reach. Here, a solid-state quantum simulator of an extended Dicke model is achieved using ErFeO3 crystals, where terahertz spectroscopy and magnetocaloric effect measurements reveal an atomically ordered phase in addition to the expected superradiant and normal phases.

    • Nicolas Marquez Peraca
    • , Xinwei Li
    •  & Junichiro Kono

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Magnetic ordering in 2D materials represents a promising platform for data storage, computing, and sensing. Here, nanometer scale imaging of few-layer Cr2Ge2Te6 reveals its thickness-dependent magnetic textures such as labyrinth domains and skyrmionic bubbles.

    • Andriani Vervelaki
    • , Kousik Bagani
    •  & Martino Poggio

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Giant magneto-thermal resistance has been recently observed in spintronic materials and superconductors, with exciting prospects in thermal management technologies. Here, nonvolatile thermal switching by magnetic field is demonstrated in commercial Sn-Pb solders, with electron thermal conductivity retaining its value even when the field is turned off.

    • Hiroto Arima
    • , Md. Riad Kasem
    •  & Yoshikazu Mizuguchi

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Complex oxides are interesting for their potential to host multiple properties and functionalities by integrating different elements in a single compound, however they are often challenging to stabilize. Here, epitaxial stabilization of LaRuO3 and NdRuO3 is demonstrated, revealing an unconventional anomalous Hall effect in NdRuO3 which is possibly related to a non-coplanar spin texture on the Nd3+ sublattice.

    • Lingfei Zhang
    • , Takahiro C. Fujita
    •  & Masashi Kawasaki

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Signatures of pressure-induced high-temperature superconductivity in nickelates have sparked great interest in these materials. Here, the sensitivity of Ruddlesden–Popper nickelate formation to in-plane misfit strain is investigated, revealing that tensile strain favours the perovskite structure LaNiO3, whereas compressive strain stabilizes the La3Ni2O7 phase where high-temperature superconductivity was reported.

    • Ting Cui
    • , Songhee Choi
    •  & Er-Jia Guo

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Kagome superconductors provide a platform to explore intertwined symmetry-breaking orders, but controversies remain despite intensive experimental and theoretical efforts. Here, a combined density functional theory and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy study reveals quantum confinement phenomena on the surface of CsV3Sb5, reconciling conflicting observations of time-reversal symmetry breaking between bulk- and surface-sensitive probes.

    • Yongqing Cai
    • , Yuan Wang
    •  & Chaoyu Chen

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Hole-doped polymer PEDOT:PSS shows high conductivity but the carrier transport mechanism is not yet clarified. Here, broadband optical conductivity spectra are derived using terahertz time-domain spectroscopy and far-infrared to-ultraviolet reflection spectroscopy, demonstrating band transport of hole carriers.

    • Zijing Guo
    • , Tetsu Sato
    •  & Hiroshi Okamoto

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Unconventional superconductivity can be found in many artificial compounds such as cuprates, iron-based and heavy-fermion superconductors, and recently discovered exotic materials; however, it rarely occurs naturally. Here, nodal superconductivity is observed in synthetically clean miassite minerals, which can also be found in nature.

    • Hyunsoo Kim
    • , Makariy A. Tanatar
    •  & Ruslan Prozorov

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Pinning sites are extremely detrimental to the frequency tunability of nano-rectifiers based on magnetic tunnel junctions. Here, the effect of pinning defects in vortex-based magnetic tunnel junctions is thoroughly explored, revealing that an amorphous magnetic material utilized as free layer can significantly reduce the impact of pinning.

    • Alex. S. Jenkins
    • , Leandro Martins
    •  & Ricardo Ferreira

  • Article
    | Open Access

    When electronic band structures undergo a topological phase transition, a non-trivial Berry curvature emerges, but its experimental detection is challenging. Here, scaling relations in the nonlinear magneto-electric transport are used to reveal a topological phase transition in ZrTe5 under magnetic fields.

    • Yusuff Adeyemi Salawu
    • , Dilanath Adhikari
    •  & Heon-Jung Kim

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Cavity polariton condensates are promising for room temperature quantum technologies, but realizing polaritonic qubit states remains challenging. Here, polarization superposition of polariton states and laser-induced polarization switching are observed in a perovskite microcavity at room temperature, suggesting a coupling between orthogonally polarized states that could enable polaritonic qubits.

    • Yuta Moriyama
    • , Takaya Inukai
    •  & Kenichi Yamashita

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Materials with a chiral crystal structure are of great interest due to potentially non-trivial structure-property relations. Here, electron microscopy and crystallographic analysis, supported by quantum chemical calculations, shed light on the conversion of the crystal structure of CoSi accompanying a change in handedness.

    • Wilder Carrillo-Cabrera
    • , Paul Simon
    •  & Yuri Grin

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Kagome metals are remarkably interesting due to the strong interplay of topology, magnetism, van-Hove singularities, correlated flat bands, and structural degrees of freedom. Here, the driving mechanism and dynamics of the charge density wave phase in ScV6Sn6 are investigated by experimental and theoretical techniques, revealing a predominant role of phonons in its stabilization.

    • Manuel Tuniz
    • , Armando Consiglio
    •  & Federico Mazzola

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The layered charge density wave system 1T-TaS2 hosts a series of interesting correlation-induced electronic phases, but the nature of its insulating state is still under debate. Here, theoretical calculations and microscopy measurements reveal the role of stacking and interlayer coupling in the formation of different bandgap types, addressing previous discrepancies.

    • Jae Whan Park
    • , Jinwon Lee
    •  & Han Woong Yeom

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Engineering the dynamics of excitons is a promising approach for advanced optoelectronic devices. Here, exciton formation dynamics at an Si/SiO2 interface are studied for different temperatures and injection levels by time-resolved terahertz spectroscopy.

    • Sergio Revuelta
    •  & Enrique Cánovas

  • Article
    | Open Access

    As recently proposed, the kagome metal CsV3Sb5 could host spontaneous orbital-currents due to Chern Fermi pockets, but these are challenging to detect. Here, a large g-factor enhancement in magnetic breakdown orbits, determined via quantum oscillations, provides a visible manifestation of Berry-curvature-induced large orbital moments.

    • Kuan-Wen Chen
    • , Guoxin Zheng
    •  & Lu Li

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Hafnia ferroelectrics hold exciting technological potential, but the variety of phases and unconventional properties found in these materials make them extremely challenging to describe theoretically. Here, an approach based on an original reference phase provides a unifying picture to understand the multiple low-energy polymorphs of hafnia.

    • Hugo Aramberri
    •  & Jorge Íñiguez

  • Article
    | Open Access

    MnBi2-xSbxTe4 is a promising host for exotic quantum phenomena but its electronic properties crucially depend on intrinsic disorder, which is difficult to quantify. Here, the roles of nanoscale defects in MnBi2-xSbxTe4 are disentangled by statistical analysis using scanning tunnelling microscopy and spectroscopy.

    • Felix Lüpke
    • , Marek Kolmer
    •  & An-Ping Li

  • Review Article
    | Open Access

    Raman spectroscopy is a popular non-destructive characterisation technique, but its application to electroceramics is under-represented compared to other fields. In this review, the latest instrumentational and computational advances are discussed, suggesting key advantages in the study of electroceramics.

    • Marco Deluca
    • , Hailong Hu
    •  & Thomas Dieing

  • Article
    | Open Access

    LiCrSe2 is a recently synthesized two-dimensional triangular lattice antiferromagnet. Here, a comprehensive analysis of its magnetic phases and structural transitions is obtained by a combination of experimental probes, revealing a complex interplay of magnetic interactions, lattice distortions, and itinerant magnetic frustration.

    • Elisabetta Nocerino
    • , Shintaro Kobayashi
    •  & Martin Månsson

  • Article
    | Open Access

    LaPt2Si2 exhibits an intriguing interplay of superconductivity and charge density wave order, but the nature of its density wave transitions is controversial. Here, high-resolution X-ray diffraction reveals the temperature dependence of a series of density wave and structural transitions in this material.

    • Elisabetta Nocerino
    • , Irene Sanlorenzo
    •  & Martin Månsson

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Understanding the effects of changing process parameters during additive manufacturing is vital for building high-quality parts. Here, operando tomographic microscopy during laser-based processing of alumina reveals detailed insight into process dynamics, including melt pool behavior and defect formation.

    • Malgorzata G. Makowska
    • , Fabrizio Verga
    •  & Steven Van Petegem

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Excitons – electron-hole bound states important for optoelectronics – are typically observed only in weakly-doped semiconductors or insulators. Here, an exciton with a large binding energy of 375 meV is observed in a highly-doped van der Waals degenerate semiconductor, remaining stable up to room temperature.

    • Yueshan Xu
    • , Junjie Wang
    •  & Zhi-Guo Chen

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The interplay of kinetic and spin degrees of freedom in strongly correlated materials leads to interesting emergent many-body phases, but their microscopic origin is still unclear. Here, a theoretical study quantifies the effect of hole motion in driving an antiferromagnetic spin background into a highly frustrated magnetic system.

    • Henning Schlömer
    • , Timon A. Hilker
    •  & Annabelle Bohrdt

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Predicting phonon properties is essential for identifying thermally efficient materials. Here, an indirect bottom-up machine learning approach is able to predict comprehensive phonon properties of ~80,000 cubic crystals spanning 63 elements, thereby overcoming the computational burden of first-principles calculations.

    • Alejandro Rodriguez
    • , Changpeng Lin
    •  & Ming Hu

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Using machine learning to construct interatomic potentials when materials are not in their electronic ground state is challenging. Here, a neural network interatomic potential is constructed for laser-excited silicon, which extends first-principles accuracy to ultra-large length and time scales.

    • Pascal Plettenberg
    • , Bernd Bauerhenne
    •  & Martin E. Garcia

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Antiferromagnetic materials are receiving renewed interest for their potential use in spintronics and information technology. Here, neutron scattering experiments reveal that TbCu2, a collinear antiferromagnet, can host spiral-like magnetic superstructures both in bulk form and small nanoparticle ensembles.

    • Elizabeth M. Jefremovas
    • , María de la Fuente Rodríguez
    •  & Luis Fernández Barquín

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Frustrated magnetism may lead to the emergence of intriguing charge-neutral fermionic excitations at low temperatures. Here, nuclear quadrupole resonance and specific-heat measurements on YbCuS2 reveal a gapless Fermi-liquid excitation in the antiferromagnetic state of the ytterbium zigzag chain.

    • Fumiya Hori
    • , Katsuki Kinjo
    •  & Takahiro Onimaru

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Modifying quantum well states is an effective approach for tuning the density of states at the Fermi level. Here, light is used to control the quantum well potential in Bi2Se3, driving a quantum well singularity below the Fermi level at ultrafast timescales and triggering a Lifshitz transition.

    • Samuel T. Ciocys
    •  & Alessandra Lanzara

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Transition metal dichalcogenides are hosts to interesting electronic order states intertwined with non-trivial band topology. Here, systematic photoemission experiments on 1T-VSe2 reveal a Dirac nodal arc emerging from band inversion and supporting spin-momentum locked topological surface states.

    • Turgut Yilmaz
    • , Xuance Jiang
    •  & Elio Vescovo

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Prediction of new high entropy materials presents a significant challenge. Here, the authors combine experimental and computational methods to search for new high entropy oxides in the tetravalent AO2 family and show why (Ti, Zr, Hf, Sn)2 crystallizes in a α-PbO2 structure.

    • Solveig S. Aamlid
    • , Graham H. J. Johnstone
    •  & Alannah M. Hallas

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Strong spin-orbit coupling in SrIrO3 mixes the orbital character of iridium d-bands, resulting in correlated narrow bands and a metal-insulator transition. Here, the electric field generated by ionic liquid gating is used to manipulate the band structure, triggering a reversible control of the metal-insulator transition.

    • Fernando Gallego
    • , Javier Tornos
    •  & Jacobo Santamaria

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Quantized states in strongly correlated oxide nanostructures are crucial for designing quantum devices in future electronics. Here, in situ ARPES measurements in SrTi1–xVxO3 reveal that the electron mean free path is a key parameter for controlling and designing quantized states in these structures.

    • Tatsuhiko Kanda
    • , Daisuke Shiga
    •  & Hiroshi Kumigashira

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