Browsing by Author "Zhan, Qian"

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Antiferromagnetic Interfacial Coupling and Giant Magnetic Hysteresis in La0.5Ca0.5MnO3-SrRuO3 Superlattices
(2018-10-01)
Kumar, Vandrangi Suresh
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Zhou, Shu-Liang
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Liu, Rui-Rui
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Zhu, Yuan-Min
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Liu, Heng-Jui
Superlattices are of great importance due to their potential as new materials genome to synthesize new functional materials. Thus, tuning of the ground state of superlattices is crucial to further control their physical properties. In this study, superlattices (SLs) consisting of alternating layers of SrRuO3 (SRO) (5 nm) and La0.5Ca0.5MnO3 (LCMO) (5 nm) are epitaxially grown on SrTiO3 (STO) and LaAlO3 (LAO) substrates with 10-unit-cell periods. A variation in the substrate-induced-strain for this choice of SLs triggers observation of remarkable properties, such as magnetic anisotropy and large magnetic hysteresis. The strain states experienced by LCMO and SRO in these SLs result in strong ferromagnetic interlayer coupling and weak antiferromagnetic interlayer coupling at low temperatures in SLs of LCMO-SRO/STO and a strong antiferromagnetic interlayer coupling in SLs of LCMO-SRO/LAO. Besides, a large magnetic hysteresis resulting from the predominant magnetic anisotropy of SRO together with the strength of magnetic coupling is observed in SLs of LCMO-SRO/LAO along the out-of-plane direction of the LAO substrate. These four different magnetic behaviors along four different directions of substrate orientations are interpreted in terms of preferential orbital occupation and competing magnetic exchange coupling together with magnetic anisotropy. This study demonstrates the subtleties in controlling the strength of magnetic coupling at the interface and stands as a model system to realize fascinating magnetic phenomena in layer-by-layer hetero-epitaxial oxide films.
Atomic Heterointerfaces and Electrical Transportation Properties in Self-Assembled LaNiO3-NiO Heteroepitaxy
(2018-04-09)
Zhu, Yuan Min
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Thi Hien Do
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Vu Thanh Tra
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Yu, Rong
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Chu, Ying-Hao
Vertical nanostructure heteroepitaxy opens new opportunities for designing next-generation electronic devices due to the enthralling multifunction combinations and the abundant heterointerfaces manipulated effects. In this study, self-assembled heteroepitaxial thin films, vertically aligned metallic LaNiO3 (LNO) and semiconducting NiO with diverse heterointerfaces, are created and systematically investigated by advanced transmission electron microscopy. With the increase of LaNiO3 content, the LaNiO3 phases present as isolated islands encircled by the connected NiO nanoplates and eventually become the continuous matrix with embedded NiO nanopillars. The atomic heterointerface between NiO and LaNiO3 phases is determined to be [NiO2-LaO](LaNiO3)-LaO-[NiO](NiO), in which an extra La-O layer is enriched at the heterointerface. Besides, the formation mechanism of the heterointerface and antiphase boundaries observed in LaNiO3 phase is discussed. The electrical transport properties at room temperature can be tuned gradually by changing the volume ratio of constituents. The correlation among the insulator-to-metal transition, the carrier types associated with transport behaviors, and the heterostructure evolutions are explored. This study offers a desirable platform to design new multifunctional electronic devices based on the oxide heterojunctions.
Energy Band Gap Modulation in Nd-Doped BiFeO3/SrRuO3 Heteroepitaxy for Visible Light Photoelectrochemical Activity
(2019-01-09)
Tan, Kok Hong
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Chen, Yun-Wen
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Chien Nguyen Van
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Wang, Hongliang
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Chen, Jhih-Wei
The ability of band offsets at multiferroic/metal and multiferroic/electrolyte interfaces in controlling charge transfer and thus altering the photoactivity performance has sparked significant attention in solar energy conversion applications. Here, we demonstrate that the band offsets of the two interfaces play the key role in determining charge transport direction in a downward self-polarized BFO film. Electrons tend to move to BFO/electrolyte interface for water reduction. Our experimental and first-principle calculations reveal that the presence of neodymium (Nd) dopants in BFO enhances the photoelectrochemical performance by reduction of the local electron hole pair recombination sites and modulation of the band gap to improve the visible light absorption. This opens a promising route to the heterostructure design by modulating the band gap to promote efficient charge transfer.
Enhanced Magnetocaloric Effect Driven by Interfacial Magnetic Coupling in Self-Assembled Mn3O4-La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 Nanocomposites
(2015-12-09)
Vandrangi, Suresh K.
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Yang, Jan-Chi
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Zhu, Yuan-Min
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Chin, Yi-Ying
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Lin, Hong-Ji
Magnetic refrigeration, resulting from the magneto caloric effect of a material around the magnetic phase-transition temperature, is a topic of great interest as it is considered to be an alternate energy solution to conventional vapor-compression refrigeration. The viability of a magnetic refrigeration system for magnetic cooling can be tested by exploiting materials in various forms, from bulk to nanostrucutres. In this study, magnetocaloric properties of self-assembled Mn3O4-La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 nanocomposites, with varying doping concentrations of Mn3O4 in the form of nanocrystals embedded in the La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 matrix, are investigated. The temperatures corresponding to the paramagnetic-to-ferromagnetic transitions are higher, and the values of change in magnetic entropy under a magnetic field of 2 T show an enhancement (highest being similar to 130%) for the nanocomposites with low doping concentrations of Mn3O4, compared to that of pure La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 thin films. Relative cooling power remain close to those of La0.7Sr0.3MnO3. The enhanced magnetic phase-transition temperature and magnetocaloric effect are interpreted and evidenced in the framework of interfacial coupling between Mn3O4 and La0.7Sr0.3MnO3. This work demonstrates the potentiality of self-assembled nanostructures for magnetic cooling near room temperature under low magnetic fields.
Enhanced Structural and Magnetic Coupling in a Mesocrystal-Assisted Nanocomposite
(2016-01-20)
Zhu, Yuanmin
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Zhan, Qian
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Yang, Jan-Chi
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Bitla, Yugandhar
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Liu, Pingping
Benefiting from the advances made in well-controlled materials synthesis techniques, nanocomposites have drawn considerable attention due to their enthralling physics and functionalities. In this work, we report a new heteroepitaxial mesocrystalperovskite nanocomposite, (NiFe2O4)(0.33):(La0.67Ca0.33MnO3)(0.67). Elaborate structural studies revealed that tiny NiFe2O4 nanocrystals aggregate into ordered octahedral mesocrystal arrays with {111} facets together with a concomitant structural phase transition of the La0.67Ca0.33MnO3 matrix upon postannealing process. Combined magnetic and X-ray absorption spectroscopic measurements show significant enhancement in the magnetic properties at room temperature due to the structural evolution of magnetic NiFe2O4 and the consequent magnetic coupling at the heterointerfaces mediating via well connected octahedrons of Mn-O-6 in La0.67Ca0.33MnO3 and (Ni,Fe)-O-6 in NiFe2O4. This work demonstrates an approach to manipulate the exciting physical properties of material systems by integrating desired functionalities of the constituents via synthesis of a self-assembled mesocrystal embedded nanocomposite system.
Giant Photoresponse in Quantized SrRuO3 Monolayer at Oxide Interfaces
(2018-03-01)
Liu, Heng-Jui
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Wang, Jing-Ching
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Cho, Deok-Yong
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Ho, Kang-Ting
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Lin, Jheng-Cyuan
The photoelectric effect in semiconductors is the main mechanism for most modern optoelectronic devices, in which the adequate bandgap plays the key role for acquiring high photoresponse. Among numerous material categories applied in this field, the complex oxides exhibit great possibilities because they present a wide distribution of band gaps for absorbing light with any wavelength. Their physical properties and lattice structures are always strongly coupled and sensitive to light illumination. Moreover, the confinement of dimensionality of the complex oxides in the heterostructures can provide more diversities in designing and modulating the band structures. On the basis of this perspective, we have chosen itinerary ferromagnetic SrRuO3 as the model material, and fabricated it in one-unit-cell thickness in order to open a small band gap for effective utilization of visible light. By inserting this SrRuO3 monolayer at the interface of the well-developed two-dimensional electron gas system (LaAlO3/SrTiO3), the resistance of the monolayer can be further revealed. In addition, a giant enhancement (>300%) of photoresponse under illumination of visible light with power density of 500 mW/cm(2) is also observed. Such can be ascribed to the further modulation of band structure of the SrRuO3 monolayer under the illumination, confirmed by cross-section scanning tunneling microscopy (XSTM). Therefore, this study demonstrates a simple route to design and explore the potential low dimensional oxide materials for future optoelectronic devices.
Local Conduction at the BiFeO3-CoFe2O4 Tubular Oxide Interface
(1970-01-01)
Hsieh, Ying-Hui
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Liou, Jia-Ming
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Huang, Bo-Chao
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Liang, Chen-Wei
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He, Qing
"In strongly correlated oxides, heterointerfaces, manipulating the interaction, frustration, and discontinuity of lattice, charge, orbital, and spin degrees of freedom, generate new possibilities for next generation devices. In this study, existing oxide heterostructures are examined and local conduction at the BiFeO3-CoFe2O4 vertical interface is found. In such heteronanostructures the interface cannot only be the medium for the coupling between phases, but also a new state of the matter. This study demonstrates a novel concept on for oxide interface design and opens an alternative pathway for the exploration of diverse functionalities in complex oxide interfaces."
Magnetic Mesocrystal-Assisted Magnetoresistance in Manganite
(2014-11-01)
Yang, Jan-Chi
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He, Qing
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Zhu, Yuan-Min
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Lin, Jheng-Cyuan
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Liu, Heng-Jui
Mesocrystal, a new class of crystals as compared to conventional and well-known single crystals and polycrystalline systems, has captured significant attention in the past decade. Recent studies have been focused on the advance of synthesis mechanisms as well as the potential on device applications. In order to create further opportunities upon functional mesocrystals, we fabricated a self-assembled nanocomposite composed of magnetic CoFe2O4 mesocrystal in Sr-doped manganites. This combination exhibits intriguing structural and magnetic tunabilities. Furthermore, the antiferromagnetic coupling of the mesocrystal and matrix has induced an additional magnetic perturbation to spin-polarized electrons, resulting in a significantly enhanced magnetoresistance in the nanocomposite. Our work demonstrates a new thought toward the enhancement of intrinsic functionalities assisted by mesocrystals and advanced design of novel mesocrystal-embedded nanocomposites.
Orientation-tuning in self-assembled heterostructures induced by a buffer layer
(2014)
Zhu, Yuanmin
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Liu, Pingping
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Yu, Rong
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Hsieh, Ying-Hui
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Ke, Dan
Anisotropic nano-plate structures in self-assembled perovskite-spinel thin films, BiFeO3-NiFe2O4 and BiFeO3-CoFe2O4, which were deposited on (001)(c) SrRuO3/SrTiO3 and DyScO3 substrates, respectively, have been demonstrated using transmission electron microscopy combined with strain analysis. Unlike the unitary cube-on-cube orientation relationship reported widely, the growth direction of the CoFe2O4 and NiFe2O4 plates was tuned to [011](c) while the BiFeO3 matrix kept [001](c) in both systems. In particular, a thin stress-sensitive BiFeO3 buffer layer between the spinel nanostructure and the substrate was introduced for providing a complex strain state in both film systems. The novel orientation tuning and the pattern configuration of the heterostructures are mainly attributed to the strain imposed on the films and the anisotropic ledge growth mechanism of spinels.
Origin of metallic behavior in NiCo2O4 ferrimagnet
(2015-10-15)
Bitla, Yugandhar
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Chin, Yi-Ying
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Lin, Jheng-Cyuan
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Van, Chien Nguyen
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Liu, Ruirui
Predicting and understanding the cation distribution in spinels has been one of the most interesting problems in materials science. The present work investigates the effect of cation redistribution on the structural, electrical, optical and magnetic properties of mixed-valent inverse spinel NiCo2O4(NCO) thin films. It is observed that the films grown at low temperatures (T < 400 degrees C) exhibit metallic behavior while that grown at higher temperatures (T > 400 degrees C) are insulators with lower ferrimagnetic-paramagnetic phase transition temperature. So far, n-type Fe3O4 has been used as a conducting layer for the spinel thin films based devices and the search for a p-type counterpart still remains elusive. The inherent coexistence and coupling of ferrimagnetic order and the metallic nature in p-type NCO makes it a promising candidate for spintronic devices. Detailed X-ray Absorption and X-ray Magnetic Circular Dichroism studies revealed a strong correlation between the mixed-valent cation distribution and the resulting ferrimagnetic-metallic/insulating behavior. Our study clearly demonstrates that it is the concentration of Ni3+ ions and the Ni3+-O-2-Ni2+ double exchange interaction that is crucial in dictating the metallic behavior in NCO ferrimagnet. The metal-insulator and the associated magnetic order-disorder transitions can be tuned by the degree of cation site disorder via growth conditions.
Permanent ferroelectric retention of BiFeO3 mesocrystal
(2016-10-26)
Hsieh, Ying-Hui
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Xue, Fei
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Yang, Tiannan
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Liu, Heng-Jui
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Zhu, Yuanmin
Non-volatile electronic devices based on magnetoelectric multiferroics have triggered new possibilities of outperforming conventional devices for applications. However, ferroelectric reliability issues, such as imprint, retention and fatigue, must be solved before the realization of practical devices. In this study, everlasting ferroelectric retention in the heteroepitaxially constrained multiferroic mesocrystal is reported, suggesting a new approach to overcome the failure of ferroelectric retention. Studied by scanning probe microscopy and transmission electron microscopy, and supported via the phase-field simulations, the key to the success of ferroelectric retention is to prevent the crystal from ferroelastic deformation during the relaxation of the spontaneous polarization in a ferroelectric nanocrystal.
Photostriction of strontium ruthenate
(2017-04-24)
Wei, Tzu-Chiao
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Wang, Hsin-Ping
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Liu, Heng-Jui
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Tsai, Dung-Sheng
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Ke, Jr-Jian
Transition metal oxides with a perovskite crystal structure exhibit a variety of physical properties associated with the lattice. Among these materials, strontium ruthenate (SrRuO3) displays unusually strong coupling of charge, spin and lattice degrees of freedom that can give rise to the photostriction, that is, changes in the dimensions of material due to the absorption of light. In this study, we observe a photon-induced strain as high as 1.12% in single domain SrRuO3, which we attribute to a nonequilibrium of phonons that are a result of the strong interaction between the crystalline lattice and electrons excited by light. In addition, these light-induced changes in the SrRuO3 lattice affect its electrical resistance. The observation of both photostriction and photoresistance in SrRuO3 suggests the possibility of utilizing the mechanical and optical functionalities of the material for next-generation optoelectronics, such as remote switches, light-controlled elastic micromotors, microactuators and other optomechanical systems.
Self-assembled gold nanostructures in complex oxide thin films
(2020-01-01)
Wang, Hongliang
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Yen, Min
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Er, Xiaokuo
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Liu, Pingping
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Wan, Farong
Recently, noble metal-complex oxide nanocomposites with a high interface-to-volume ratio have attracted considerable interest for their potential applications in advanced devices. In this work, Nb:SrTiO3 epitaxial thin films embedded with different ratios of Au nanophase were fabricated using pulsed laser deposition. Detailed heterostructures at an atomic scale have been investigated based on advanced transmission electron microscopy. The results reveal that the pattern tunability of Au nanostructures can be realized by controlling the volume ratios between Au and Nb:SrTiO3, resulting in the manipulation of absorption characteristics in the visible light region. It is suggested that elastic energy and surface energy anisotropy are important factors to control the growth of the present Au/Nb:SrTiO3 heterostructures. This work offers a desirable platform to design nano composites with novel optical properties.
Spontaneous orientation-tuning driven by the strain variation in self-assembled ZnO-SrRuO3 heteroepitaxy
(2015-11-09)
Zhu, Yuanmin
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Chang, Wei Sea
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Yu, Rong
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Liu, Ruirui
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Wei, Tzu-Chiao
Heteroepitaxial ZnO and SrRuO3 were grown on SrTiO3 (111) substrates and formed a self-assembled wurtzite-perovskite nanostructure. Spontaneous orientation-tuning of the SrRuO3 pillars was observed, with the growth direction changing from [111](SRO) to [011](SRO) as the film thickness increased, which is attributed to a misfit strain transition from the biaxial strain imposed by the SrTiO3 substrate to the vertical strain provided by the ZnO matrix. The [011]-SrRuO3 and [0001]-ZnO combination presents a favorable matching in the nanocomposite films, resulting in higher charge carrier mobility. This vertically integrated configuration and regulation on the crystallographic orientations are expected to be employed in designing multi-functional nanocomposite systems for applications in electronic devices. (C) 2015 AIP Publishing LLC.
Strain-Mediated Inverse Photoresistivity in SrRuO3/La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 Superlattices
(2016-02-02)
Liu, Heng-Jui
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Wei, Tzu-Chiao
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Zhu, Yuan-Min
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Liu, Rui-Rui
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Tzeng, Wen-Yen
In the pursuit of novel functionalities by utilizing the lattice degree of freedom in complex oxide heterostructure, the control mechanism through direct strain manipulation across the interfaces is still under development, especially with various stimuli, such as electric field, magnetic field, light, etc. In this study, the superlattices consisting of colossal-magnetoresistive manganites La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 (LSMO) and photostrictive SrRuO3 (SRO) have been designed to investigate the light-dependent controllability of lattice order in the corresponding functionalities and rich interface physics. Two substrates, SrTiO3 (STO) and LaAlO3 (LAO), have been employed to provide the different strain environments to the superlattice system, in which the LSMO sublayers exhibit different orbital occupations. Subsequently, by introducing light, we can modulate the strain state and orbital preference of LSMO sublayers through light-induced expansion of SRO sublayers, leading to surprisingly opposite changes in photoresistivity. The observed photoresistivity decreases in the superlattice grown on STO substrate while increases in the superlattice grown on LAO substrate under light illumination. This work has presented a model system that demonstrates the manipulation of orbital-lattice coupling and the resultant functionalities in artificial oxide superlattices via light stimulus.
Tuning Electronic Transport in a Self-Assembled Nanocomposite
(2014-06-01)
Chang, Wei Sea
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Liu, Heng-Jui
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Vu Thanh Tra
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Chen, Jhih-Wei
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Wei, Tzu-Chiao
Self-assembled nanocomposites with a high interface-to-volume ratio offer an opportunity to overcome limitations in current technology, where intriguing transport behaviors can be tailored by the choice of proper interactions of constituents. Here we integrated metallic perovskite oxide SrRuO3 - wurzite semiconductor ZnO nanocomposites to investigate the room-temperature metal - insulator transition and its effect on photoresponse. We demonstrate that the band structure at the interface can be tuned by controlling the interface-to-volume ratio of the nanocomposites. Photoinduced carrier injection driven by visible light was detected across the nanocomposites. This work shows the charge interaction of the vertically integrated multiheterostructures by incorporating a controllable interface-to-volume ratio, which is essential for optimization of the design and functionality of electronic devices.
Tuning the formation and functionalities of ultrafine CoFe2O4 nanocrystals via interfacial coherent strain
(2013)
Hsieh, Ying-Hui
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Kuo, Ho-Hung
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Liao, Sheng-Chieh
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Liu, Heng-Jui
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Chen, Ying-Jiun
Complex oxide nanocrystals with a spinel structure show their remarkable optical, electronic, mechanical, thermal, and magnetic properties. In this study, we present a simple yet versatile strategy to grow self-assembled epitaxial CoFe2O4 nanocrystals with well-controlled size (less than 10 nm) and single orientation. CoFe2O4 nanocrystals were fabricated via phase separation in a BiFeO3-CoF2O4 ultrathin film by pulsed laser deposition. The coherent strain at the BiFeO3-CoF2O4 interface suppressed the growth of the nanocrystals regardless of substrate temperatures. This strain also resulted in the ferromagnetic anisotropy and interesting conducting behaviors of ultrafine CFO nanocrystals.
Van der Waals epitaxy of functional MoO2 film on mica for flexible electronics
(2016-06-20)
Ma, Chun-Hao
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Lin, Jheng-Cyuan
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Liu, Heng-Jui
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Thi Hien Do
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Zhu, Yuan-Min
Flexible electronics have a great potential to impact consumer electronics and with that our daily life. Currently, no direct growth of epitaxial functional oxides on commercially available flexible substrates is possible. In this study, in order to address this challenge, muscovite, a common layered oxide, is used as a flexible substrate that is chemically similar to typical functional oxides. We fabricated epitaxial MoO2 films on muscovite via pulsed laser deposition technique. A combination of X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy confirms van der Waals epitaxy of the heterostructures. The electrical transport properties of MoO2 films are similar to those of the bulk. Flexible or free-standing MoO2 thin film can be obtained and serve as a template to integrate additional functional oxide layers. Our study demonstrates a remarkable concept to create flexible electronics based on functional oxides. Published by AIP Publishing.