Energy transition

In quantum magnetic materials, ordered phases induced by an applied mag- netic field can be described as the Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) of mag- non excitations. In the strongly frustrated system SrCu₂(BO₃)₂, no clear magnon BEC could be observed, pointing to an alternative mechanism, but the high fields required to probe this physics have remained a barrier to detailed investigation.Here we exploit the first purpose-built high-field neutron scattering facility to measure ...

Pt-FeO_x(OH)_y interface with enhanced activity for PROX is generated via strong metal-support interaction. Increase in the degree of hydroxylation of Pt-FeO_x(OH)_y interface enhances the rate of PROX mediated by active Fe²⁺ species.

Understanding the degree to which charge-stripe, spin-stripe, and superconducting orders compete/coexist is paramount for elucidating the microscopic pairing mechanism in the cuprate high-temperature superconductors. We explore the tunability of magnetism, superconductivity, and crystal structure in the stripe phase of the cuprate La_2−xBa_xCuO₄, by employing complementary techniques under compressive uniaxial stress in the CuO₂ plane. Our results show a sixfold increase ...

The European aviation sector stands at a pivotal juncture in its quest to achieve net-zero climate impacts. Focusing on flight CO₂ emissions overlooks up to 80% of the sector's climate repercussions.

Our research delves deep into the role of electricity-based synthetic jet fuels and direct air carbon capture and storage (DACCS) as potential game-changers. These solutions promise climate-neutral aviation, but there's a catch: the relentless rise in air traffic. Relying solely on renewables-derived synthetic fuels may strain both economic and natural resources. On the flip side, offsetting fossil jet fuel impacts via DACCS poses its own set of challenges. Our findings underscore one clear message: for a genuinely climate-neutral European aviation, we must reconsider the scale of air traffic.

The triangular lattice antiferromagnet (TLAF) has been the standard paradigm of frustrated magnetism for several decades. The most common magnetic ordering in insulating TLAFs is the 120° structure. However, a new triple-Q chiral ordering can emerge in metallic TLAFs, representing the short wave- length limit of magnetic skyrmion crystals. We report the metallic TLAF Co_1/3TaS2 as the first example of tetrahedral triple-Q magnetic ordering with the associated topological Hall effect (non-zero σ_xy(H = 0)). We also ...

The topology of electronic and phonon band structures of graphene is well studied and known to exhibit a Dirac cone at the K point of the Brillouin zone. Here, we applied inelastic x-ray scattering (IXS) along with ab initio calculations to investigate phonon topology in graphite, the 3D analog of graphene. We identified a pair of modes that form a very weakly gapped linear anticrossing at the K point that can be essentially viewed as a Dirac cone approximant. The IXS intensity ...

Magnetic skyrmions, with their distinctive vortex-like magnetic spin configurations, continue to intrigue researchers due to their potential applications in nanoscience and technology. Traditionally skyrmions form two-dimensional hexagonal close-packed lattices, with the skyrmions themselves displaying one of just two types of internal magnetization texture known as Bloch- or Néel-type. Recent theories hinted at the prospect of reconfigurable transitions between skyrmion phases of different lattice types and internal textures. Until now, experimental evidence supporting such theories has been scarce.

We report on measurements of the in-plane magnetic penetration depth (λab) in single crystals of Sr₂RuO₄ down to ≃0.015  K by means of muon-spin rotation-relaxation. The linear temperature dependence of λ⁻²_ab for T≲0.7  K suggests the presence of nodes in the superconducting gap. This statement is further substantiated by observation of the Volovik effect, i.e., the reduction of λ⁻²_ab as a function of the applied magnetic field. The experimental zero-field ...

Strontium titanate is a wide band gap semiconductor. Its surface can be rendered conductive by a mild annealing in vacuum. The present study reveals that by deposition of less than a monolayer of non-volatile organic molecules such as tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ) this conductivity can be completely turned off. In view of the small size of TCNQ (ca. 1 nm) this could allow new pathways toward oxide-based electronics.