Engineering Physics Commons^™

A Low-Power Optical Electron Switch, Wayne Cheng-Wei Huang, Roger Bach, Peter Beierle, Herman Batelaan

Department of Physics and Astronomy: Faculty Publications

An electron beam is deflected when it passes over a silicon-nitride surface, if the surface is illuminated by a low-power continuous-wave diode laser. A deflection angle of up to 1.2 mrad is achieved for an electron beam of 29 μrad divergence. A mechanical beam-stop is used to demonstrate that the effect can act as an optical electron switch with a rise and fall time of 6 μs. Such a switch provides an alternative means to control electron beams, which may be useful in electron lithography and microscopy.

Large-Scale Solution Synthesis Of Narrow Graphene Nanoribbons, Timothy H. Vo, Mikhail Shekhirev, Donna A. Kunkel, Martha D. Morton, Eric Berglund, Lingmei Kong, Peter M. Wilson, Peter A. Dowben, Axel Enders, Alexander Sinitskii

Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience: Faculty Publications

According to theoretical studies, narrow graphene nanoribbons with atomically precise armchair edges and widths of(1.1 eV), which makes them potentially promising for logic applications. Different top–down fabrication approaches typically yield ribbons with width >10nm and have limited control over their edge structure. Here we demonstrate a novel bottom–up approach that yields gram quantities of high-aspect-ratio graphene nanoribbons, which are only ~1 nm wide and have atomically smooth armchair edges. These ribbons are shown to have a large electronic bandgap of ~1.3 eV, which is significantly higher than any value reported so far in experimental studies of graphene nanoribbons prepared by …

Structural And Electronic Origin Of The Magnetic Structures In Hexagonal Lufeo3, Hongwei Wang, Igor V. Solovyev, Wenbin Wang, Xiao Wang, Philip J. Ryan, David J. Keavney, Jong-Woo Kim, Thomas Z. Ward, Leyi Zhu, Jian Shen, X. M. Cheng, Lixin He, Xiaoshan Xu, Xifan Wu

Xiaoshan Xu Papers

Using combined theoretical and experimental approaches, we studied the structural and electronic origin of the magnetic structure in hexagonal LuFeO₃. Besides showing the strong exchange coupling that is consistent with the high magnetic ordering temperature, the previously observed spin reorientation transition is explained by the theoretically calculated magnetic phase diagram. The structural origin of this spin reorientation that is responsible for the appearance of spontaneous magnetization, is identified by theory and verified by x-ray diffraction and absorption experiments.

Multiferroic Hexagonal Ferrites (H-Rfeo3, R=Y, Dy-Lu): An Experimental Review, Xiaoshan Xu, Wenbin Wang

Xiaoshan Xu Papers

Hexagonal ferrites (h-RFeO₃, R=Y, Dy-Lu) have recently been identified as a new family of multiferroic complex oxides. The coexisting spontaneous electric and magnetic polarizations make h-RFeO₃ rare-case ferroelectric ferromagnets at low temperature. Plus the room-temperature mul- tiferroicity and predicted magnetoelectric effect, h-RFeO₃ are promising materials for multiferroic applications. Here we review the structural, ferroelectric, magnetic, and magnetoelectric properties of h-RFeO₃. The thin film growth is also discussed because it is critical in making high quality single crystalline materials for studying intrinsic properties.

Spin Density Waves In Periodically Strained Graphene Nanoribbons, Nabil M. Al-Aqtash, Renat F. Sabirianov

Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience: Faculty Publications

Zigzag graphene nanoribbons (ZGNRs) are antiferromagnetic in the ground state with zero net magnetization due to the compensation of contributions from opposite edges. Uniform deformations (both shear and axial) do not produce magnetization due to symmetry restrictions. However, we report the results of first-principles calculations that predict the induction of spin density waves (SDWs) in ZGNRs under non-uniform periodic strain. Using the density functional theory (DFT) method, we show that a sinusoidal magnetization variation along the axis of the ribbon occurs under a sinusoidal transversal shear strain. SDWs appear due to the presence of a strain gradient that induced asymmetry …

Active Control Of Magnetoresistance Of Organic Spin Valves Using Ferroelectricity, Dali Sun, Mei Fang, Xiaoshan Xu, Lu Jiang, Hangwen Guo, Yanmei Wang, Wenting Yang, Lifeng Yin, Paul C. Snijders, T. Z. Ward, Zheng Gai, X. -G. Zhang, Ho Nyung Lee, Jian Shen

Xiaoshan Xu Papers

Organic spintronic devices have been appealing because of the long spin lifetime of the charge carriers in the organic materials and their low cost, flexibility and chemical diversity. In previous studies, the control of resistance of organic spin valves is generally achieved by the alignment of the magnetization directions of the two ferromagnetic electrodes, generating magnetoresistance. Here we employ a new knob to tune the resistance of organic spin valves by adding a thin ferroelectric interfacial layer between the ferromagnetic electrode and the organic spacer: the magnetoresistance of the spin valve depends strongly on the history of the bias voltage, …

The Spin State Of A Molecular Adsorbate Driven By The Ferroelectric Substrate Polarization†, Xin Zhang, Tatiana Palamarciuc, Jean-François Létard, Patrick Rosa, Eduardo Vega Lozada, Fernand Torres, Luis G. Rosa, Bernard Doudin, Peter A. Dowben

Peter Dowben Publications

The spin state of [Fe(H₂B(pz)₂)₂(bipy)] thin films is mediated by changes in the electric field at the interface of organic ferroelectric polyvinylidene fluoride with trifluoroethylene (PVDF–TrFE). Signatures of the molecular crossover transition are evident in changes in the unoccupied states and the related shift from diamagnetic to paramagnetic characteristics. This may point the way to the molecular magneto-electric effect on devices.

Organic Ferroelectric Evaporator With Substrate Cooling And In Situ Transport Capabilities, Keith Foreman, C. Labedz, M. Shearer, Shireen Adenwalla

Shireen Adenwalla Papers

We report on the design, operation, and performance of a thermal evaporation chamber capable of evaporating organic thin films. Organic thin films are employed in a diverse range of devices and can provide insight into fundamental physical phenomena. However, growing organic thin films is often challenging and requires very specific deposition parameters. The chamber presented here is capable of cooling sample substrates to temperatures below 130 K and allows for the detachment of the sample from the cooling stage and in situ transport. This permits the use of multiple deposition techniques in separate, but connected, deposition chambers without breaking vacuum …

Positive Exchange Bias In Epitaxial Permalloy/Mgo Integrated With Si (100), S. S. Rao, J. T. Prater, Fan Wu, S. Nori, D. Kumar, Lanping Yue, Sy_Hwang Liou, Jagdish Narayan

Sy-Hwang Liou Publications

In magnetic random access memory (MRAM) devices, soft magnetic thin film elements such as permalloy (Py) are used as unit cells of information. The epitaxial integration of these elements with the technologically important substrate Si (100) and a thorough understanding of their magnetic properties are critical for CMOS-based magnetic devices. We report on the epitaxial growth of Ni_82.5Fe_17.5 (permalloy, Py) on Si (100) using a TiN/MgO buffer layer. Initial stages of growth are characterized by the formation of discrete islands that gradually merge into a continuous film as deposition times are extended. Interestingly, we find that the …

Plasma Processes And Polymers Special Issue On: Plasma And Cancer, Mounir Laroussi, Michael Keidar

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

During the last two decades, research efforts on the application of low temperature plasmas in biology and medicine have positioned nonequilibrium lowtemperature plasmas as a technology that has the potential of revolutionizing healthcare.[1,2] Low temperature plasmas can be applied in direct contact with living tissues to inactivate bacteria,[3] to disinfect wounds and accelerate wound healing,[4] and to induce damage in some cancer cells.[5–11]

Use Of Zwitterionic Molecules For Forming A Hole Or Electron Transport Layer, Bernard Doudin, Pierre Braunstein, Lucie Routaboul, Guillaume Dalmas, Zhengzheng Zhang, Peter Dowben

Peter Dowben Publications

The invention relates to the use of zwitterionic molecules for forming a hole or electron transport layer. The preferred zwitterionic molecules of the invention are derivatives of p-benzoquinonemonoimines. The invention is useful in the field of electronic devices in particular.

Adherent Cells Avoid Polarization Gradients On Periodically Poled Litao3 Ferroelectrics, Christof Christophis, Elisabetta Ada Cavalcanti-Adam, Maximilian Hanke, Kenji Kitamura, Alexei Gruverman, Michael Grunze, Peter A. Dowben, Axel Rosenhahn

Peter Dowben Publications

The response of fibroblast cells to periodically poled LiTaO₃ ferroelectric crystals has been studied. While fibroblast cells do not show morphological differences on the two polarization directions, they show a tendency to avoid the field gradients that occur between polarization domains of the ferroelectric. The response to the field gradients is fully established after one hour, a time at which fibroblasts form their first focal contacts. If suspension cells, with a lower tendency to establish strong surface contacts are used, no influence of the field gradients is observed.

Infrared Phonon Modes In Multiferroic Single-Crystal Fete2o5br, K. H. Miller, X. S. Xu, H. Berger, V. Cracium, Xiaoxiang Xi, C. Martin, G. L. Carr, D. B. Tanner

Xiaoshan Xu Papers

Reflection and transmission as a function of temperature (7–300 K and 5–300 K respectively) have been measured on single crystals of the multiferroic compound FeTe₂O₅Br utilizing light spanning from the far infrared to the visible. The complex dielectric function and other optical properties were obtained via Kramers-Kronig analysis and by fits to a Drude-Lortentz model. Analysis of the anisotropic excitation spectra via Drude-Lorentz fitting and lattice dynamical calculations have led to the observation of 43 of the 53 modes predicted along the b axis of the monoclinic cell. The phonon response parallel to the a and …

Growth Diagram Of La0.7sr0.3mno3 Thin Films Using Pulsed Laser Deposition, Hangwen Guo, Dali Sun, Wenbin Wang, Zheng Gai, Ivan Kravchenko, Jian Shao, Lu Jiang, Thomas Z. Ward, Paul C. Snijders, Lifeng Yin, Jian Shao, Xiaoshan Xu

Xiaoshan Xu Papers

An experimental study was conducted on controlling the growth mode of La_0.7Sr_0.3MnO₃ thin films on SrTiO₃ substrates using pulsed laser deposition (PLD) by tuning growth temperature, pressure, and laser fluence. Different thin film morphology, crystallinity, and stoichiometry have been observed depending on growth parameters. To understand the microscopic origin, the adatom nucleation, step advance processes, and their relationship to film growth were theoretically analyzed and a growth diagram was constructed. Three boundaries between highly and poorly crystallized growth, 2D and 3D growth, stoichiometric and non-stoichiometric growth were identified in the growth diagram. A good …

Room-Temperature Multiferroic Hexagonal Lufeo3 Films, Wenbin Wang, Jun Zhao, Wenbo Wang, Zheng Gai, Nina Balke, Miaofang Chi, Ho Nyung Lee, Wei Tian, Leyi Zhu, Xuemei Cheng, David J. Keavney, Jieyu Yi, Thomas Z. Ward, Paul C. Snijders, Hans M. Christen, Weida Wu, Jian Shen, Xiaoshan Xu

Xiaoshan Xu Papers

The crystal and magnetic structures of single-crystalline hexagonal LuFeO₃ films have been studied using x-ray, electron, and neutron diffraction methods. The polar structure of these films are found to persist up to 1050 K; and the switchability of the polar behavior is observed at room temperature, indicating ferroelectricity. An antiferromagnetic order was shown to occur below 440 K, followed by a spin reorientation resulting in a weak ferromagnetic order below 130 K. This observation of coexisting multiple ferroic orders demonstrates that hexagonal LuFeO₃ films are room-temperature multiferroics.

Stacking Principle And Magic Sizes Of Transition Metal Nanoclusters Based On Generalized Wulff Construction, S. F. Li, X. J. Zhao, X. S. Xu, Y. F. Gao, Zhenyu Zhang

Xiaoshan Xu Papers

Nanoclusters with extra stability at certain cluster sizes are known as magic clusters with exotic properties. The classic Wulff construction principle, which stipulates that the preferred structure of a cluster should minimize its total surface energy, is often invoked in determining the cluster magicity, resulting in close-shelled Mackay icosahedronal clusters with odd-numbered magic sizes of 13, 55, 147, etc. Here we use transition metal clusters around size 55 as prototypical examples to demonstrate that, in the nanometer regime, the classic Wulff construction principle needs to be generalized to primarily emphasize the edge atom effect instead of the surface energy. Specifically, …

Scaling Of The Coercive Field In Ferroelectrics At The Nanoscale, R. V. Gaynutdinov, M. Minnekaev, S. Mitko, A. L. Tolstikhina, A. Zenkevich, Stephen Ducharme, Vladimir M. Fridkin

Stephen Ducharme Publications

The scaling of the coercive field in ferroelectric films at the nanoscale is investigated experimentally. The scaling in the films of copolymer vinylidene fluoride and BaTiO3 with thickness equal by the order of value to the critical domain nucleus size 1–10 nm reveals deviation from the well-known Kay–Dunn law. At this thickness region coercive field does not depend on thickness and coincides with Landau–Ginzburg–Devonshire value.

Changing Molecular Band Offsets In Polymer Blends Of (P3ht/P(Vdf–Trfe)) Poly(3-Hexylthiophene) And Poly(Vinylidene Fluoride With Trifluoroethylene) Due To Ferroelectric Poling, Freddy Wong, Godohaldo Perez, Manuel Bonilla, Juan A. Colon-Santana, Xin Zhang, Pankaj Sharma, Alexei Gruverman, Peter A. Dowben, Luis G. Rosa

Peter Dowben Publications

Photoelectron emission and inverse photoemission spectroscopy studies of polymer blends of poly(vinylidene fluoride (70%) – trifluoroethylene (30%)) P(VDF–TrFE 70 : 30) and regio-regular poly(3- hexylthiophene) (P3HT) provide evidence of changes in the molecular band offsets as a result of changes in the ferroelectric polarization in P(VDF–TrFE). Investigation of the blends with higher concentrations of the semiconducting P3HT component revealed that the organic semiconductor component of the blend dominates the electronic structure in the vicinity of the chemical potential. Specifically, the states of P3HT at the conduction band minimum and valence band maximum fall within the HOMO–LUMO gap of the dielectric …

Induced Magneto-Electric Coupling In Ferroelectric/Ferromagnetic Heterostructures, Jeffery Carvell, Ruihua Cheng, Peter A. Dowben, Q Yang

Peter Dowben Publications

Using an external magnetic field, we have demonstrated room temperature control of the electric polarization of a ferroelectric polymer, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), in an artificial multiferroic structure. For ferroelectric PVDF polymer thin films in an iron-PVDF-iron heterostructure, both the ferroelectric coercivity and polarization display a hysteresis dependence on the external magnetic field. We also find that the thickness of the PVDF layer has an effect on the magnetoelectric coupling in our samples. We observe a giant magnetoelectric coupling with values as large as 3700 V/cm Oe to 41700 V/cm Oe.

Magnetoelectric Coupling At The Euo/Batio3 Interface, Shi Cao, P Liu, Jinke Tang, Haidong Lu, C W. Bark, Sangjin Ryu, Chang-Beom Eom, Alexei Gruverman, Peter A. Dowben

Peter Dowben Publications

Magnetization modulation by ferroelectric polarization switching is reported for the ferromagnetic-ferroelectric EuO/BaTiO₃heterostructure. The value of the magnetization critical exponent β is consistent with the expected Heisenberg-like ferromagnetism of EuO and reported Curie temperature. The critical exponent is seen to decrease with increased magnetic coupling. The results are discussed in the context of data obtained earlier for epitaxial La_0.67Sr_0.33MnO₃/BaTiO₃ heterostructures, where magnetization increases and critical exponent b also declines with ferroelectric polarization pointing away from ferromagnetic layer. The observed similarity between two systems illustrates an importance of charge doping in magnetoelectric coupling, …

Adsorption Of Tcnqh-Functionalized Quinonoid Zwitterions On Gold And Graphene: Evidence For Dominant Intermolecular Interactions+, Lingmei Kong, Lucie Routaboul, Pierre Braunstein, Hong-Gi Park, Jaewu Choi, John P. Colon Cordova, E Vega, Luis G. Rosa, Bernard Doudin, Peter A. Dowben

Peter Dowben Publications

We experimentally investigate the electronic structure of the strongly dipolar, quinonoid-type molecule obtained by TCNQH-functionalization (TCNQH = (NC)₂CC₆H₄CH(CN)₂) of (6Z)-4-(butylamino)-6-(butyliminio)- 3-oxocyclohexa-1,4-dien-1-olate C₆H₂(...NHR)₂(...O)₂ (where R = n-C₄H₉) to be very similar after deposition from solution on either graphene or gold substrates. These zwitterion adsorbate thin films form structures that are distinct from those formed by related quinonoid molecules previously studied. We argue that adsorbate–adsorbate interactions dominate and lead to a Stranski–Krastanov ‘island growth’ mechanism.

High Frequency Study Of Magnetic Nanostructures, Abhishek Srivastava

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

The work in this thesis is divided in three parts. In part one we developed electrodeposition method of Nickel Nanowire in commercial AAO template in constant current (Galvanostatic) mode, further we tried to estimate the growth rate from theory, from saturation magnetization and direct measurement from SEM image.

In part two we focused on using the Vector Network Analyzer (VNA) to measure the Ferromagnetic Resonance (FMR))of various magnetic Nanowire arrays. We employed different measurement geometries using microstripline and coplanar waveguide as microwave transmission lines.

In part three our aim was to study the magnetic properties of complex ferromagnetic system, especially …

Magnetic Ordering And Structural Phase Transition In Strained Ultrathin Srruo3/Srtio3 Superlattice, Mingquiang Gu, Xiaoshan Wu, Guoping Zhang

Symposium 2012

No abstract provided.

Qpced2.0: A Computer Program For The Processing And Quantification Of Polycrystalline Electron Diffraction Patterns, Xingzhong Li

Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience: Faculty Publications

The processing and quantification of electron diffraction patterns have become vital in advanced electron crystallographic analysis work. A computer program, QPCED2.0, has been developed for the handling of selected-area electron diffraction patterns for polycrystalline materials. QPCED2.0 can be used to enhance the visibility of electron diffraction patterns, to convert electron diffraction patterns into intensity profiles, and to retrieve precisely the lattice d spacings and the integral intensities of the diffraction rings. The design and implementation of QPCED2.0 are elucidated and application examples are given.

Crystal Field Splitting And Optical Bandgap Of Hexagonal Lufeo3 Films, Wenbin Wang, Hongwei Wang, Xiaoying Xu, Leyi Zhu, Lixin He, Elizabeth Wills, Xuemei Cheng, David J. Keavney, Jian Shen, Xifan Wu, Xiaoshan Xu

Xiaoshan Xu Papers

Hexagonal LuFeO₃ films have been studied using x-ray absorption and optical spectroscopy. The crystal splitting of Fe³⁺ is extracted as E_e' - E_e" = 0.7 eV and E_a'1 - E_e' = 0.9 eV, and a 2.0 eV optical bandgap is determined assuming a direct gap. First-principles calculations confirm the experiments that the relative energies of crystal field splitting states do follow E_a'1 > E_e' > E_e" with slightly underestimated values and a bandgap of 1.35 eV.

Growth Diagram And Magnetic Properties Of Hexagonal Lufe2o4 Thin Films, Wenbin Wang, Zheng Gai, Miaofang Chi, Jason D. Fowlkes, Jieyu Yi, Leyi Zhu, Xuemei Cheng, David J. Keavney, Paul C. Snijders, Thomas Z. Ward, Jian Shen, Xiaoshan Xu

Xiaoshan Xu Papers

Agrowth diagram of Lu-Fe-O compounds on MgO (111) substrates using pulsed laser deposition is constructed based on extensive growth experiments. The LuFe₂O₄ phase can only be grown in a small range of temperature and O₂ pressure conditions. An understanding of the growth mechanism of Lu-Fe-O compound films is offered in terms of the thermochemistry at the surface. Superparamagnetism is observed in the LuFe₂O₄ film and is explained in terms of the effect of the impurity hexagonal LuFeO₃ (h-LuFeO₃) phase and structural defects.

Ferroelectric Control Of Magnetocrystalline Anisotropy At Cobalt/Poly(Vinylidene Fluoride) Interfaces, Pavel Lukashev, Tula R. Paudel, Juan M. López-Encarnación, Shireen Adenwalla, Evgeny Y. Tsymbal, Julian P. Velev

Shireen Adenwalla Papers

Electric field control of magnetization is one of the promising avenues for achieving high-density energy-efficient magnetic data storage. Ferroelectric materials can be especially useful for that purpose as a source of very large switchable electric fields when interfaced with a ferromagnet. Organic ferroelectrics, such as poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF), have an additional advantage of being weakly bonded to the ferromagnet, thus minimizing undesirable effects such as interface chemical modification and/or strain coupling. In this work we use first-principles density functional calculations of Co/PVDF heterostructures to demonstrate the effect of ferroelectric polarization of PVDF on the interface magnetocrystalline anisotropy that controls the …

Domain Size And Structure In Exchange Coupled [Co/Pt]/Nio/[Co/Pt] Multilayers, Andrew G. Baruth, Shireen Adenwalla

Shireen Adenwalla Papers

We investigate the competing effects of interlayer exchange coupling and magnetostatic coupling in the magnetic heterostructure ([Co/Pt]/NiO/[Co/Pt]) with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA). This particular heterostructure is unique among coupled materials with PMA in directly exhibiting both ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic coupling, oscillating between the two as a function of spacer layer thickness. By systematically tuning the coupling interactions via a wedge-shaped NiO spacer layer, we explore the energetics that dictate magnetic domain formation using high resolution magnetic force microscopy coupled with the magneto-optical Kerr effect. This technique probes the microscopic and macroscopic magnetic behavior as a continuous function of thickness and …

Schottky Barrier Formation At The Au To Rare Earth Doped Gan Thin Film Interface, S. R. Mchale, J. W. Mcclory, J. C. Petrosky, J. Wu, R. Palai, Yaroslav B. Losovyj, Peter A. Dowben

Peter Dowben Publications

The Schottky barriers formed at the interface between gold and various rare earth doped GaN thin films (RE = Yb, Er, Gd) were investigated in situ using synchrotron photoemission spectroscopy. The resultant Schottky barrier heights were measured as 1.68 ± 0.1 eV (Yb:GaN), 1.64 ± 0.1 eV (Er:GaN), and 1.33 ± 0.1 eV (Gd:GaN). We find compelling evidence that thin layers of gold do not wet and uniformly cover the GaN surface, even with rare earth doping of the GaN. Furthermore, the trend of the Schottky barrier heights follows the trend of the rare earth metal work function.

Mesoscale Flux-Closure Domain Formation In Single-Crystal Batio3, R. G.P. Mcquaid, L. J. Mcgilly, Pankaj Sharma, Alexei Gruverman, J. M. Gregg

Alexei Gruverman Publications

Over 60 years ago, Charles Kittel predicted that quadrant domains should spontaneously form in small ferromagnetic platelets. He expected that the direction of magnetization within each quadrant should lie parallel to the platelet surface, minimizing demagnetizing fields, and that magnetic moments should be configured into an overall closed loop, or flux-closure arrangement. Although now a ubiquitous observation in ferromagnets, obvious flux-closure patterns have been somewhat elusive in ferroelectric materials. This is despite the analogous behaviour between these two ferroic subgroups and the recent prediction of dipole closure states by atomistic simulations research. Here we show Piezoresponse Force Microscopy images of …