We observe using low-energy electron microscopy the self-assembly of monolayer-thick stripes of Au on W(110) near the transition temperature between stripes and the non-patterned (homogeneous) phase. We demonstrate that the amplitude of this Au stripe phase decreases with increasing temperature and vanishes at the order-disorder transition (ODT). The wavelength varies much more slowly with temperature and coverage than theories of stress-domain patterns with sharp phase boundaries would predict, and maintains a finite value of about 100 nm at the ODT. We argue that such nanometer-scale stripes should often appear near the ODT.
We propose a model for planar nanoscale dielectric capacitor consisting of a single layer, insulating hexagonal boron nitride (BN) stripe placed between two metallic graphene stripes, all forming commensurately a single atomic plane. First-principles density functional calculations on these nanoscale capacitors for different levels of charging and different widths of graphene - BN stripes mark high gravimetric capacitance values, which are comparable to those of supercapacitors made from other carbon based materials. Present nanocapacitor model allows the fabrication of series, parallel and mi…
Nucleation processes of mixed-phase states are an intrinsic characteristic of first-order phase transitions, typically related to local symmetry breaking. Direct observation of emerging mixed-phase regions in materials showing a first-order metal-insulator transition (MIT) offers unique opportunities to uncover their driving mechanism. Using photoemission electron microscopy, we image the nanoscale formation and growth of insulating domains across the temperature-driven MIT in NdNiO3 epitaxial thin films. Heteroepitaxy is found to strongly determine the nanoscale nature of the phase transition…
Direct observation of nanometer-scale pinning sites in (Nd$_{0.33}$,Eu$_{0.20}$,Gd$_{0.47}$)Ba$_2$Cu$_3$O$_{7-δ}$ single crystals
本文报道了在（Nd，Eu，Gd）Ba $_2$ Cu $_3$ O $_y$单晶体表面和体内观察到的自组织条纹状结构。表面上条纹的周期性在500和800 nm之间。这些可能是晶体的生长步骤。透射电子显微镜的调查显示，在20至40 nm的范围内的散装周期性条纹。从电子背散射衍射调查，没有晶体学取向不良，由于nanostripes.Scanning隧道光谱实验发现非超导区域，沿孪晶方向，这大概构成强钉扎网站。
Competing interactions produce finite-size textures in myriad condensed matter systems, typically forming elongated stripe or round bubble domains. Transitions between stripe and bubble phases, driven by field or temperature, are expected to be reversible in nature. Here we report on the distinct character of the analogous transition for nanoscale spin textures in chiral Co/Pt-based multilayer films, known to host Néel skyrmions, using microscopy, magnetometry, and micromagnetic simulations. Upon increasing field, individual stripes fission into multiple skyrmions, and this transition exhibits…
Ferroelectrics form domain patterns that minimize their energy subject to imposed boundary conditions. In a linear, constrained theory, that neglects domain wall energy, periodic domain patterns in the form of multi-rank laminates can be identified as minimum-energy states. However, when these laminates (formed in a macroscopic crystal) comprise domains that are a few nanometers in size, the domain-wall energy becomes significant, and the behaviour of laminate patterns at this scale is not known. Here, a phase-field model, which accounts for gradient energy and strain energy contributions, is …
We present a detailed real-space spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscopy (SP-STM) study of the magnetic domain structure of Gd(0001) films epitaxially grown on W(110). To find optimal preparation conditions, the influence of the substrate temperature during deposition and of the post-growth annealing temperature was investigated. Our results show that the lowest density of surface defects, such as step edges as well as screw and edge dislocations, is obtained for room temperature deposition and subsequent annealing at 900\,K. SP-STM data reveal small-sized magnetic domains at lower anneal…
The ability to precisely control the electronic coupling/decoupling of adsorbates from surfaces is an essential goal. It isimportant for fundamental studies not only in surface science but alsoin several applied domains including, for example, miniaturizedmolecular electronic or for the development of various devices suchas nanoscale biosensors or photovoltaic cells. Here, we provide atomic-scale experimental and theoretical investigations of a semi-insulatinglayer grown on a silicon surface via its epitaxy with CaF2. We showthat, following the formation of a wetting layer, the ensuing organiz…
