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Visualization of a ferromagnetic metallic edge state in manganite strips
Boundary effects play a strong role in the electronic properties of structured manganites. Here, Du et al. demonstrate the existence of ferromagnetic metallic edge states and an enhanced metal–insulator transition temperature in patterned strips of manganite which emerge because of broken symmetry effects.
- Kai Du
- , Kai Zhang
- & Jian Shen
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Massive band gap variation in layered oxides through cation ordering
Understanding and controlling the electronic band gap of a material is vital for many electronic and optoelectronic applications. Towards this aim, this study shows how huge band gap variations can arise by manipulating the electrostatic interactions via cation ordering in correlated oxide materials.
- Prasanna V. Balachandran
- & James M. Rondinelli
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Probing the electron states and metal-insulator transition mechanisms in molybdenum disulphide vertical heterostructures
The mechanism that drives the metal to insulator transition in the two-dimensional material molybdenum disulphide is unknown. Here, the authors identify a percolation-type transition by studying the transport and capacitance properties of a metal-insulator-MoS2heterostructure.
- Xiaolong Chen
- , Zefei Wu
- & Ning Wang
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| Open AccessThe evolution of cyclopropenium ions into functional polyelectrolytes
Cationic polyelectrolytes have a broad range of applications, including membranes for fuel cells. Here, the authors report a family of cationic polyelectrolytes based on the highly modular cyclopropenium ion building block, which show high ionic conductivity and tunable physical properties.
- Yivan Jiang
- , Jessica L. Freyer
- & Luis M. Campos
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Large resistivity modulation in mixed-phase metallic systems
The control of magnetization by an electric field can offer new magnetic data devices. Here, controlling magnetic phases in FeRh, the authors achieve a large electroresistance response in FeRh/PMN-PT heterostructures by applying an electric field, which could be used for non-volatile memory applications.
- Yeonbae Lee
- , Z. Q. Liu
- & R. Ramesh
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Observation of the intrinsic bandgap behaviour in as-grown epitaxial twisted graphene
Stacking graphene in such a way that each layer is rotated relative to the one below provides a way of controlling the properties of this useful material. Park et al. now demonstrate a technique for fabricating this twisted graphene in such a way that it has an intrinsic electronic bandgap.
- Jeongho Park
- , William C. Mitchel
- & Jonghoon Lee
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| Open AccessControlling coherence via tuning of the population imbalance in a bipartite optical lattice
Ultracold atoms in optical lattices are a versatile platform for modelling simplified physical systems. By tuning structural deformations in bipartite optical lattices, Di Liberto et al. induce superfluid-to-Mott-insulator phase transitions that may shed light on condensed-matter systems such as the cuprates.
- M. Di Liberto
- , T. Comparin
- & C. Morais Smith
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Carbon nanotube network-silicon oxide non-volatile switches
The integration of carbon nanotubes with silicon is important for their incorporation into next-generation nano-electronics. Here, the authors demonstrate a non-volatile switch that utilizes carbon nanotube networks to electrically contact a conductive nano-crystal silicon filament in silica.
- Albert D. Liao
- , Paulo T. Araujo
- & Mildred S. Dresselhaus
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Optical freezing of charge motion in an organic conductor
In strongly correlated systems, the material properties can be drastically altered through subtle external perturbations. Here, the authors show that photoexcitation of the organic conductor α-(ET)2I3with ultrashort pulses leads to a counter-intuitive freezing of the electron motion.
- Takahiro Ishikawa
- , Yuto Sagae
- & Shinichiro Iwai
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Visible-light-enhanced gating effect at the LaAlO3/SrTiO3 interface
The interface between LaAlO3 and SrTiO3 is host to exotic phenomena that can be controlled by light or electric fields. Lei et al. show that combining the two controls leads to a dramatic decrease, not increase, of carrier density at the heterointerface, beyond what can be done with only one of them.
- Y. Lei
- , Y. Li
- & J. R. Sun
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Femtosecond electrons probing currents and atomic structure in nanomaterials
Femtosecond low-energy electron pulses allow probing ultrafast processes in nanoscale systems with high spatial and temporal resolution. Here, the authors develop a hybrid approach for studying ultrafast electric currents and structural dynamics in low-dimensional systems.
- Melanie Müller
- , Alexander Paarmann
- & Ralph Ernstorfer
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The missing boundary in the phase diagram of PbZr1−xTixO3
PbZr1−xTixO3is a widely used piezoelectric material. Here, the authors clarify the long-standing issue of the monoclinic crystal phase evolution across the morphotropic phase boundary in the compound’s phase diagram, contributing also to the understanding of its piezoelectric properties.
- N. Zhang
- , H. Yokota
- & Z.-G. Ye
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A polarity-induced defect mechanism for conductivity and magnetism at polar–nonpolar oxide interfaces
The interface between LaAlO3 and SrTiO3shows unusual phenomena such as a two-dimensional electron gas as well as magnetism. Here, Yu and Zunger show how the formation of defects contributes to the properties of this system.
- Liping Yu
- & Alex Zunger
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Few-layer molybdenum disulfide transistors and circuits for high-speed flexible electronics
Molybdenum disulfide holds great potential for advanced flexible electronic devices. Here, using a transferred gate technique, the authors fabricate molybdenum disulfide-based transistors with optimized device geometry and contact, improving device speed and demonstrating gigahertz circuits with voltage gain.
- Rui Cheng
- , Shan Jiang
- & Xiangfeng Duan
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| Open AccessGigahertz single-trap electron pumps in silicon
Devices that generate single electrons are crucial for a precise definition of the ampere—the SI unit for electrical current. Yamahata et al. now demonstrate a silicon-based transistor that can accurately emit lone electrons at a rate of over 3 billion per second.
- Gento Yamahata
- , Katsuhiko Nishiguchi
- & Akira Fujiwara
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Bottom-up approach for the low-cost synthesis of graphene-alumina nanosheet interfaces using bimetallic alloys
Graphene-dielectric interfaces play a crucial role in many electronic devices, but electronic properties of graphene are inevitably degraded when the interfaces are produced. Omiciuolo et al.solve this problem using a low-cost approach based on epitaxial growth of graphene on dielectric alloys.
- Luca Omiciuolo
- , Eduardo R. Hernández
- & Alessandro Baraldi
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Spin–orbit proximity effect in graphene
Spin–orbit coupling in graphene is small, which makes controlling spin currents in this otherwise useful spintronic material difficult. Avsar et al.now demonstrate that combining graphene with few-layer tungsten disulphide increases its spin–orbit coupling by three orders of magnitude
- A. Avsar
- , J. Y. Tan
- & B. Özyilmaz
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Tenfold increase in the lifetime of blue phosphorescent organic light-emitting diodes
Short device lifetime of blue phosphorescent organic light-emitting diodes currently prevents their use. Here, Zhang et al. prove that the triplet-polaron annihilation mechanism is responsible for the degraded blue emitters and show how this finding can be used to improve the device lifetime.
- Yifan Zhang
- , Jaesang Lee
- & Stephen R. Forrest
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Flutter-driven triboelectrification for harvesting wind energy
The harvesting of electrical energy from renewable sources remains an ongoing scientific focus. Here, the authors report a triboelectric generator that is capable of harnessing energy from the wind via a flutter motion, with the output of the device dependent on the precise motion caused by the wind.
- Jihyun Bae
- , Jeongsu Lee
- & U-In Chung
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Rational design of all organic polymer dielectrics
The selection of polymeric dielectric materials for energy storage applications is not trivial, as several criteria must be satisfied simultaneously. Here, Sharma et al.present a high-throughput hierarchical strategy using the band gap and dielectric constant to screen and identify good candidates.
- Vinit Sharma
- , Chenchen Wang
- & Rampi Ramprasad
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Critical speeding-up in the magnetoelectric response of spin-ice near its monopole liquid–gas transition
The competing magnetic interaction in the spin-ice oxide compounds lead to emergent magnetic monopole excitations. Here, the authors study the critical dynamics near the monopole liquid-gas transition, and confirm predictions that these monopoles are also accompanied by an electric dipole.
- Christoph P. Grams
- , Martin Valldor
- & Joachim Hemberger
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Enhancing 2D growth of organic semiconductor thin films with macroporous structures via a small-molecule heterointerface
High-performance organic electronics require minimal grain boundaries in an organic semiconductor active layer. Here, Kang et al.report the growth of pentacene thin films in a macroporous structure with improved crystallinity, which is guided by a chemically heterogeneous, rubber-like substrate.
- Boseok Kang
- , Moonjeong Jang
- & Kilwon Cho
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Reversible control of spin-polarized supercurrents in ferromagnetic Josephson junctions
The ability to manipulate spin-polarized supercurrents could enable the development of superconducting spintronic devices whose performance exceeds that of conventional spintronics. Banerjee et al.demonstrate a superconducting analogue of the archetypical spintronic device, the spin valve.
- N. Banerjee
- , J.W.A. Robinson
- & M. G. Blamire
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Reversible nano-structuring of SrCrO3-δ through oxidation and reduction at low temperature
Oxygen vacancies can significantly influence the electronic and structural properties of complex oxides. Here, the authors find that by controlling the concentration of oxygen vacancy defects in SrCrO3thin films, the crystal structure, oxygen diffusivity and electronic properties can be reversibly switched.
- K. H. L. Zhang
- , P. V. Sushko
- & S. A. Chambers
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Magneto-tunable photocurrent in manganite-based heterojunctions
Correlated oxide materials are of interest for solar cell applications that, in combination with properties such as magnetism, could offer novel functionalities. Here, the authors find that by applying strain or magnetic fields the photocurrent in La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 thin films can be significantly enhanced.
- Z. G. Sheng
- , M. Nakamura
- & M. Kawasaki
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Ionic field effect and memristive phenomena in single-point ferroelectric domain switching
The switching of ferroelectric domains can be used for applications such as information storage. Here, the authors demonstrate that a broad range of domain morphologies can be induced by the tip of a scanning probe microscope, which can be explained by the dynamics of surface charge screening.
- Anton V. Ievlev
- , Anna N. Morozovska
- & Sergei V. Kalinin
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| Open AccessGiant dielectric and magnetoelectric responses in insulating nanogranular films at room temperature
The electric and magnetic responses of matter are of interest for their use in electronic applications. Here, the authors find a large dielectric and magnetoelectric response in FeCo-MgF nanogranular films, caused by quantum mechanical tunnelling oscillation between magnetic granules.
- Nobukiyo Kobayashi
- , Hiroshi Masumoto
- & Sadamichi Maekawa
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| Open AccessTurning a band insulator into an exotic superconductor
Most superconductors that exhibit exotic pairing symmetries are derived from host materials that are Mott insulators. Xiangang Wan and Sergey Savrasov show that it may be possible to realize an exotic p-wave superconductor in doped Bi2Se3, which is a topological band insulator.
- Xiangang Wan
- & Sergey Y. Savrasov
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Suppression of the critical thickness threshold for conductivity at the LaAlO3/SrTiO3 interface
The thin highly conducting electron layer at the interface of LaAlO3 grown on SrTiO3 is of promise for nanoscale electronics. Here, the authors show that, by depositing a thin cobalt film on top of LaAlO3, the minimum thickness of LaAlO3needed for this conducting layer to form can be reduced to one unit cell.
- E. Lesne
- , N. Reyren
- & M. Bibes
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Functional ferroic heterostructures with tunable integral symmetry
Crystal symmetries play an important role in the properties of materials, but allow little dynamic control once the materials have been grown. Here, the authors show that conducting oxides sandwiched between independently switchable ferroelectric films achieve tunable symmetry for controllable properties.
- C. Becher
- , M. Trassin
- & D. Meier
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Approaching the limits of transparency and conductivity in graphitic materials through lithium intercalation
Graphene-based materials have potential as transparent electrodes, but still fall short of desired performance goals. Here, Bao et al.report that upon intercalation of lithium into few-layer graphene, desired sheet resistance and optical transmittance may be achieved.
- Wenzhong Bao
- , Jiayu Wan
- & Liangbing Hu
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Anomalous piezoelectricity in two-dimensional graphene nitride nanosheets
In piezoelectric materials, mechanical strain and electrical polarization are interlinked. Here, the authors find piezoelectricity in carbon nitride nanosheets, arising from the presence of holes in the two-dimensional sheets.
- Matthew Zelisko
- , Yuranan Hanlumyuang
- & Pradeep Sharma
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High-strength carbon nanotube fibre-like ribbon with high ductility and high electrical conductivity
There is strong interest in carbon nanotube assemblies for a variety of applications, many of which require combined high mechanical and electrical properties. Here, the authors demonstrate a rolling technique for performance improvement, reporting tensile strength of 4.34 GPa, ductility of 10% and electrical conductivity of 2.0 × 104 S cm−1.
- J. N. Wang
- , X. G. Luo
- & Y. Chen
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Electrochemical dynamics of nanoscale metallic inclusions in dielectrics
Nanoscale metal inclusions play an important role in solid-state dielectric devices. Here, the authors demonstrate that these inclusions can change their shape, size and position in response to an applied electric field, and that electrochemical processes can lead to metal cluster nucleation and growth.
- Yuchao Yang
- , Peng Gao
- & Wei D. Lu
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Reversible electric-field control of magnetization at oxide interfaces
Control of magnetism by an electric field is of interest for applications such as information storage. Here, the authors achieve this magnetoelectric coupling in a non-superconducting cuprate, sandwiched between two ferromagnetic manganese oxide layers, whose magnetization can be switched with the sole action of an electric field.
- F. A. Cuellar
- , Y. H. Liu
- & J. Santamaria
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| Open AccessOrganic semiconductor density of states controls the energy level alignment at electrode interfaces
Understanding and being able to predict alignment between the electrode Fermi energy and the transport states in the organic semiconductor is important. Here, the authors report an electrostatic model, capable of reproducing the full range of interfacial energy level alignment regimes.
- Martin Oehzelt
- , Norbert Koch
- & Georg Heimel
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Electrochemical mechanism of ion current rectification of polyelectrolyte gel diodes
Polyelectrolyte gel diodes rectify ion currents in electrolyte solutions and the rectification mechanism is believed to be similar to that of conventional semiconductor p–n diodes. Here, Yamamoto and Doi predict a very different mechanism, which is attributable to their electrochemical nature.
- Tetsuya Yamamoto
- & Masao Doi
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Large-scale complementary macroelectronics using hybrid integration of carbon nanotubes and IGZO thin-film transistors
Carbon nanotubes and metal-oxide semiconductors are widely used in thin-film transistors, but integrating the two technologies is challenging. Here, the authors report a hybrid integration of p-type carbon nanotubes and n-type IGZO transistors, resulting in a large-area complementary circuit.
- Haitian Chen
- , Yu Cao
- & Chongwu Zhou
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Expanded graphite as superior anode for sodium-ion batteries
Graphite is a common anode material for lithium-ion batteries, but small interlayer spacing makes it unsuitable for sodium-ion batteries. Here, Wen et al.synthesize a graphite material with expanded layer distances, which could be a promising anodic material for sodium-ion batteries.
- Yang Wen
- , Kai He
- & Chunsheng Wang
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Magnetocaloric effects in a freestanding and flexible graphene-based superlattice synthesized with a spatially confined reaction
Superlattices are made of alternating thin-film layers and offer a broader range of properties than natural materials. Here, the authors present a method for fabricating free-standing graphene–vanadium oxide superlattices, which could be used in smart windows or as temperature sensors.
- Haiou Zhu
- , Chong Xiao
- & Yi Xie
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Modular assembly of optical nanocircuits
Lumped circuit elements provide a simple tool to design complex electronic systems; a similar approach has been proposed for nanophotonics. Here, the authors demonstrate the modularized design and assembly of photonic nanocircuits using metal and dielectric nanoparticles as the constituent lumped elements.
- Jinwei Shi
- , Francesco Monticone
- & Andrea Alù
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Near room-temperature multiferroic materials with tunable ferromagnetic and electrical properties
The combination of magnetism and ferroelectricity makes multiferroics of interest for applications such as data storage. Here, the authors predict a new class of multiferroics near room temperature, consisting of oxide superlattices whose electrical and ferromagnetic properties can be easily controlled.
- Hong Jian Zhao
- , Wei Ren
- & L. Bellaiche
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| Open AccessSub-15-nm patterning of asymmetric metal electrodes and devices by adhesion lithography
Electron-beam lithography is often used for patterning of asymmetric metal electrodes for nanoscale devices, but suffers from several limitations. Here, the authors report a new adhesion lithography process, which allows for high-throughput and simple fabrication of nanogap metal electrodes.
- David J. Beesley
- , James Semple
- & John C. deMello
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Pressure-induced semiconducting to metallic transition in multilayered molybdenum disulphide
Molybdenum disulphide has been predicted to undergo an electronic phase transition, but experimental evidence for this is limited. Here, the authors observe a high-pressure semiconducting-to-metallic transition in molybdenum disulphide at 19 GPa, and quantify changes in electronic, vibrational, optical and structural properties.
- Avinash P. Nayak
- , Swastibrata Bhattacharyya
- & Jung-Fu Lin
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Electrical magnetochiral anisotropy in a bulk chiral molecular conductor
Electrical magnetochiral anisotropy phenomenon describes the change in resistance of chiral materials caused by the interplay between chirality, conductivity and magnetic fields. Pop et al.show here for the first time the occurrence of this phenomenon in a bulk chiral molecular conductor.
- Flavia Pop
- , Pascale Auban-Senzier
- & Narcis Avarvari
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| Open AccessHighly efficient carrier multiplication in PbS nanosheets
Carrier multiplication processes, where photons are converted into multiple charge carriers, promise higher efficiencies for solar cells based on quantum dots and nanorods. Here, the authors demonstrate carrier multiplication in PbS nanosheets, extending this effect to two-dimensional materials.
- Michiel Aerts
- , Thomas Bielewicz
- & Laurens D. A. Siebbeles
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Mechanisms of charge transfer and redistribution in LaAlO3/SrTiO3 revealed by high-energy optical conductivity
The origin of the two-dimensional electron gas at complex oxide interfaces is often explained by the polar catastrophe model, which involves a charge transfer mechanism. Using optical conductivity analysis, the authors assign and quantify the charge transfer, corroborating the polar catastrophe scenario.
- T.C. Asmara
- , A. Annadi
- & A. Rusydi
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Double-heterojunction nanorods
Introducing active hetrojunctions could improve the capabilities of devices based on colloidal quantum dots. Here, the authors develop nanorods with double heterojunctions and show that they can provide independent control over the electron and hole processes, demonstrating their potential in light-emitting diodes.
- Nuri Oh
- , Sooji Nam
- & Moonsub Shim
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Condensation of two-dimensional oxide-interfacial charges into one-dimensional electron chains by the misfit-dislocation strain field
Strain is one of the parameters used to control electron densities in semiconductor devices. Here, the authors show that strain at the interface of two oxide thin films can lead to the condensation of the two-dimensional interfacial electron density into one-dimensional chains.
- C.-P. Chang
- , M.-W. Chu
- & C. H. Chen