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- ItemNano-biosupercapacitors enable autarkic sensor operation in blood([London] : Nature Publishing Group UK, 2021) Lee, Yeji; Bandari, Vineeth Kumar; Li, Zhe; Medina-Sánchez, Mariana; Maitz, Manfred F.; Karnaushenko, Daniil; Tsurkan, Mikhail V; Karnaushenko, Dmitriy D.; Schmidt, Oliver G.Today’s smallest energy storage devices for in-vivo applications are larger than 3 mm3 and lack the ability to continuously drive the complex functions of smart dust electronic and microrobotic systems. Here, we create a tubular biosupercapacitor occupying a mere volume of 1/1000 mm3 (=1 nanoliter), yet delivering up to 1.6 V in blood. The tubular geometry of this nano-biosupercapacitor provides efficient self-protection against external forces from pulsating blood or muscle contraction. Redox enzymes and living cells, naturally present in blood boost the performance of the device by 40% and help to solve the self-discharging problem persistently encountered by miniaturized supercapacitors. At full capacity, the nano-biosupercapacitors drive a complex integrated sensor system to measure the pH-value in blood. This demonstration opens up opportunities for next generation intravascular implants and microrobotic systems operating in hard-to-reach small spaces deep inside the human body.
- ItemStrong and ductile high temperature soft magnets through Widmanstätten precipitates([London] : Nature Publishing Group UK, 2023) Han, Liuliu; Maccari, Fernando; Soldatov, Ivan; Peter, Nicolas J.; Souza Filho, Isnaldi R.; Schäfer, Rudolf; Gutfleisch, Oliver; Li, Zhiming; Raabe, DierkFast growth of sustainable energy production requires massive electrification of transport, industry and households, with electrical motors as key components. These need soft magnets with high saturation magnetization, mechanical strength, and thermal stability to operate efficiently and safely. Reconciling these properties in one material is challenging because thermally-stable microstructures for strength increase conflict with magnetic performance. Here, we present a material concept that combines thermal stability, soft magnetic response, and high mechanical strength. The strong and ductile soft ferromagnet is realized as a multicomponent alloy in which precipitates with a large aspect ratio form a Widmanstätten pattern. The material shows excellent magnetic and mechanical properties at high temperatures while the reference alloy with identical composition devoid of precipitates significantly loses its magnetization and strength at identical temperatures. The work provides a new avenue to develop soft magnets for high-temperature applications, enabling efficient use of sustainable electrical energy under harsh operating conditions.
- ItemIntegrated molecular diode as 10 MHz half-wave rectifier based on an organic nanostructure heterojunction([London] : Nature Publishing Group UK, 2020) Li, Tianming; Bandari, Vineeth Kumar; Hantusch, Martin; Xin, Jianhui; Kuhrt, Robert; Ravishankar, Rachappa; Xu, Longqian; Zhang, Jidong; Knupfer, Martin; Zhu, Feng; Yan, Donghang; Schmidt, Oliver G.Considerable efforts have been made to realize nanoscale diodes based on single molecules or molecular ensembles for implementing the concept of molecular electronics. However, so far, functional molecular diodes have only been demonstrated in the very low alternating current frequency regime, which is partially due to their extremely low conductance and the poor degree of device integration. Here, we report about fully integrated rectifiers with microtubular soft-contacts, which are based on a molecularly thin organic heterojunction and are able to convert alternating current with a frequency of up to 10 MHz. The unidirectional current behavior of our devices originates mainly from the intrinsically different surfaces of the bottom planar and top microtubular Au electrodes while the excellent high frequency response benefits from the charge accumulation in the phthalocyanine molecular heterojunction, which not only improves the charge injection but also increases the carrier density.
- ItemCollapse of layer dimerization in the photo-induced hidden state of 1T-TaS2([London] : Nature Publishing Group UK, 2020) Stahl, Quirin; Kusch, Maximilian; Heinsch, Florian; Garbarino, Gaston; Kretzschmar, Norman; Hanff, Kerstin; Rossnagel, Kai; Geck, Jochen; Ritschel, TobiasPhoto-induced switching between collective quantum states of matter is a fascinating rising field with exciting opportunities for novel technologies. Presently, very intensively studied examples in this regard are nanometer-thick single crystals of the layered material 1T-TaS2, where picosecond laser pulses can trigger a fully reversible insulator-to-metal transition (IMT). This IMT is believed to be connected to the switching between metastable collective quantum states, but the microscopic nature of this so-called hidden quantum state remained largely elusive up to now. Here, we characterize the hidden quantum state of 1T-TaS2 by means of state-of-the-art x-ray diffraction and show that the laser-driven IMT involves a marked rearrangement of the charge and orbital order in the direction perpendicular to the TaS2-layers. More specifically, we identify the collapse of interlayer molecular orbital dimers as a key mechanism for this non-thermal collective transition between two truly long-range ordered electronic crystals.
- ItemUltrathin positively charged electrode skin for durable anion-intercalation battery chemistries([London] : Nature Publishing Group UK, 2023) Sabaghi, Davood; Wang, Zhiyong; Bhauriyal, Preeti; Lu, Qiongqiong; Morag, Ahiud; Mikhailovia, Daria; Hashemi, Payam; Li, Dongqi; Neumann, Christof; Liao, Zhongquan; Dominic, Anna Maria; Nia, Ali Shaygan; Dong, Renhao; Zschech, Ehrenfried; Turchanin, Andrey; Heine, Thomas; Yu, Minghao; Feng, XinliangThe anion-intercalation chemistries of graphite have the potential to construct batteries with promising energy and power breakthroughs. Here, we report the use of an ultrathin, positively charged two-dimensional poly(pyridinium salt) membrane (C2DP) as the graphite electrode skin to overcome the critical durability problem. Large-area C2DP enables the conformal coating on the graphite electrode, remarkably alleviating the electrolyte. Meanwhile, the dense face-on oriented single crystals with ultrathin thickness and cationic backbones allow C2DP with high anion-transport capability and selectivity. Such desirable anion-transport properties of C2DP prevent the cation/solvent co-intercalation into the graphite electrode and suppress the consequent structure collapse. An impressive PF6−-intercalation durability is demonstrated for the C2DP-covered graphite electrode, with capacity retention of 92.8% after 1000 cycles at 1 C and Coulombic efficiencies of > 99%. The feasibility of constructing artificial ion-regulating electrode skins with precisely customized two-dimensional polymers offers viable means to promote problematic battery chemistries.
- ItemEvidence of two-dimensional flat band at the surface of antiferromagnetic kagome metal FeSn([London] : Nature Publishing Group UK, 2021) Han, Minyong; Inoue, Hisashi; Fang, Shiang; John, Caolan; Ye, Linda; Chan, Mun K.; Graf, David; Suzuki, Takehito; Ghimire, Madhav Prasad; Cho, Won Joon; Kaxiras, Efthimios; Checkelsky, Joseph G.The kagome lattice has long been regarded as a theoretical framework that connects lattice geometry to unusual singularities in electronic structure. Transition metal kagome compounds have been recently identified as a promising material platform to investigate the long-sought electronic flat band. Here we report the signature of a two-dimensional flat band at the surface of antiferromagnetic kagome metal FeSn by means of planar tunneling spectroscopy. Employing a Schottky heterointerface of FeSn and an n-type semiconductor Nb-doped SrTiO3, we observe an anomalous enhancement in tunneling conductance within a finite energy range of FeSn. Our first-principles calculations show this is consistent with a spin-polarized flat band localized at the ferromagnetic kagome layer at the Schottky interface. The spectroscopic capability to characterize the electronic structure of a kagome compound at a thin film heterointerface will provide a unique opportunity to probe flat band induced phenomena in an energy-resolved fashion with simultaneous electrical tuning of its properties. Furthermore, the exotic surface state discussed herein is expected to manifest as peculiar spin-orbit torque signals in heterostructure-based spintronic devices.
- ItemGiant stress response of terahertz magnons in a spin-orbit Mott insulator([London] : Nature Publishing Group UK, 2022) Kim, Hun-Ho; Ueda, Kentaro; Nakata, Suguru; Wochner, Peter; Mackenzie, Andrew; Hicks, Clifford; Khaliullin, Giniyat; Liu, Huimei; Keimer, Bernhard; Minola, MatteoMagnonic devices operating at terahertz frequencies offer intriguing prospects for high-speed electronics with minimal energy dissipation However, guiding and manipulating terahertz magnons via external parameters present formidable challenges. Here we report the results of magnetic Raman scattering experiments on the antiferromagnetic spin-orbit Mott insulator Sr2IrO4 under uniaxial stress. We find that the energies of zone-center magnons are extremely stress sensitive: lattice strain of 0.1% increases the magnon energy by 40%. The magnon response is symmetric with respect to the sign of the applied stress (tensile or compressive), but depends strongly on its direction in the IrO2 planes. A theory based on coupling of the spin-orbit-entangled iridium magnetic moments to lattice distortions provides a quantitative explanation of the Raman data and a comprehensive framework for the description of magnon-lattice interactions in magnets with strong spin-orbit coupling. The possibility to efficiently manipulate the propagation of terahertz magnons via external stress opens up multifold design options for reconfigurable magnonic devices.
- ItemDirected exciton transport highways in organic semiconductors([London] : Nature Publishing Group UK, 2023) Müller, Kai; Schellhammer, Karl S.; Gräßler, Nico; Debnath, Bipasha; Liu, Fupin; Krupskaya, Yulia; Leo, Karl; Knupfer, Martin; Ortmann, FrankExciton bandwidths and exciton transport are difficult to control by material design. We showcase the intriguing excitonic properties in an organic semiconductor material with specifically tailored functional groups, in which extremely broad exciton bands in the near-infrared-visible part of the electromagnetic spectrum are observed by electron energy loss spectroscopy and theoretically explained by a close contact between tightly packing molecules and by their strong interactions. This is induced by the donor–acceptor type molecular structure and its resulting crystal packing, which induces a remarkable anisotropy that should lead to a strongly directed transport of excitons. The observations and detailed understanding of the results yield blueprints for the design of molecular structures in which similar molecular features might be used to further explore the tunability of excitonic bands and pave a way for organic materials with strongly enhanced transport and built-in control of the propagation direction.
- ItemFlexomagnetism and vertically graded Néel temperature of antiferromagnetic Cr2O3 thin films([London] : Nature Publishing Group UK, 2022) Makushko, Pavlo; Kosub, Tobias; Pylypovskyi, Oleksandr V.; Hedrich, Natascha; Li, Jiang; Pashkin, Alexej; Avdoshenko, Stanislav; Hübner, René; Ganss, Fabian; Wolf, Daniel; Lubk, Axel; Liedke, Maciej Oskar; Butterling, Maik; Wagner, Andreas; Wagner, Kai; Shields, Brendan J.; Lehmann, Paul; Veremchuk, Igor; Fassbender, Jürgen; Maletinsky, Patrick; Makarov, DenysAntiferromagnetic insulators are a prospective materials platform for magnonics, spin superfluidity, THz spintronics, and non-volatile data storage. A magnetomechanical coupling in antiferromagnets offers vast advantages in the control and manipulation of the primary order parameter yet remains largely unexplored. Here, we discover a new member in the family of flexoeffects in thin films of Cr2O3. We demonstrate that a gradient of mechanical strain can impact the magnetic phase transition resulting in the distribution of the Néel temperature along the thickness of a 50-nm-thick film. The inhomogeneous reduction of the antiferromagnetic order parameter induces a flexomagnetic coefficient of about 15 μB nm−2. The antiferromagnetic ordering in the inhomogeneously strained films can persist up to 100 °C, rendering Cr2O3 relevant for industrial electronics applications. Strain gradient in Cr2O3 thin films enables fundamental research on magnetomechanics and thermodynamics of antiferromagnetic solitons, spin waves and artificial spin ice systems in magnetic materials with continuously graded parameters.
- ItemTailoring electron beams with high-frequency self-assembled magnetic charged particle micro optics([London] : Nature Publishing Group UK, 2022) Huber, R.; Kern, F.; Karnaushenko, D.D.; Eisner, E.; Lepucki, P.; Thampi, A.; Mirhajivarzaneh, A.; Becker, C.; Kang, T.; Baunack, S.; Büchner, B.; Karnaushenko, D.; Schmidt, O.G.; Lubk, A.Tunable electromagnets and corresponding devices, such as magnetic lenses or stigmators, are the backbone of high-energy charged particle optical instruments, such as electron microscopes, because they provide higher optical power, stability, and lower aberrations compared to their electric counterparts. However, electromagnets are typically macroscopic (super-)conducting coils, which cannot generate swiftly changing magnetic fields, require active cooling, and are structurally bulky, making them unsuitable for fast beam manipulation, multibeam instruments, and miniaturized applications. Here, we present an on-chip microsized magnetic charged particle optics realized via a self-assembling micro-origami process. These micro-electromagnets can generate alternating magnetic fields of about ±100 mT up to a hundred MHz, supplying sufficiently large optical power for a large number of charged particle optics applications. That particular includes fast spatiotemporal electron beam modulation such as electron beam deflection, focusing, and wave front shaping as required for stroboscopic imaging.