arXiv subjects

Thierry Ouisse

Publications and source records attributed to Thierry Ouisse.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2024

Magnetic Order and Magneto-Elasticity in the Electronic Excitations of Gd-$i$-MAX

We report the investigation of electronic collective modes in rare-earth-based magnets (Mo$_{2/3}$RE$_{1/3}$)$_2$AlC (also known as RE-$i$-MAX phases), where RE=Gd, Yb, and Dy, using single crystal samples. A detailed investigation of the Raman spectra of Gd-$i$-MAX samples at low temperatures, with a focus on the phonon behavior in relation to the antiferromagnetic (AFM) phase transition at 26 K is presented. Significant shifts in the central frequencies of several low-frequency phonon modes were observed below 25 K, correlating with the Néel transition. Integrated Raman intensity measurements indicated a reduction in the electronic background below the AFM transition temperature, suggesting the opening of a magnetic gap. Our analysis showed no new phonon modes. Therefore, we do not see any indication of a Brillouin zone folding of phonon mode to the $Γ$-point in our measurement. However, the hardening of all phonon modes at low temperatures points to a strong spin-phonon coupling effect. Using a temperature-dependent model of phonon frequency, we determined the spin-phonon coupling constant $λ$ to be less than 0.1 cm$^{-1}$ for all frequencies, which is of the same order of magnitude as found in other antiferromagnetic materials such as MnF$_{2}$ and FeF$_{2}$ with $T_N=68~K$ and $T_N=78~K$, respectively, but significantly lower than that of $CuO$ with $T_N=213~K$.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2023

Phase transition at 350 K in the Ti$_3$C$_2$T$_x$ MXene: possible sliding (moiré) ferroelectricity

A phase transition is found in Ti$_3$C$_2$T$_x$ MXene at 350 K, by measuring the complex Young's modulus of self-standing thick films. A step-like softening and increase of the mechanical losses is found below 350 K, indicative of a phase transition, where the square of the order parameter is coupled to strain. It is argued that it should be a ferroelectric transition, most likely of the sliding (moiré) type, due to charge transfer between facing flakes sliding with respect to each other. If the transition will be confirmed to be ferroelectric, Ti$_3$C$_2$T$_x$ will be added to the class of metallic ferroelectrics and open new perspectives of applications, in addition to the numerous already studied.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2021

Magnetic structure determination of rare-earth based, high moment, atomic laminates; potential parent materials for 2D magnets

We report muon spin rotation ($μ$SR) and neutron diffraction on the rare-earth based magnets (Mo$_{2/3}$RE$_{1/3}$)$_2$AlC, also predicted as parent materials for 2D derivatives, where RE = Nd, Gd (only ($μ$SR), Tb, Dy, Ho and Er. By crossing information between the two techniques, we determine the magnetic moment ($m$), structure, and dynamic properties of all compounds. We find that only for RE = Nd and Gd the moments are frozen on a microsecond time scale. Out of these two, the most promising compound for a potential 2D high ($m$) magnet is the Gd variant, since the parent crystals are pristine with $m = 6.5 \pm 0.5 μ_B$, Néel temperature of $29 \pm 1$ K, and the magnetic anisotropy between in and out of plane coupling is smaller than $10^{-8}$. This result suggests that magnetic ordering in the Gd variant is dominated by in-plane magnetic interactions and should therefore remain stable if exfoliated into 2D sheets.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2018

Electronic and vibrational properties of V$_2$C-based MXenes: from experiments to first-principles modeling

In the present work, the electronic and vibrational properties of both pristine V$_2$C and fully-terminated V$_2$CT$_2$ (where T = F, O, OH) 2D monolayers are investigated using density functional theory. Firstly, the atomic structures of V$_2$C-based MXene phases are optimized and their respective dynamical stabilities are discussed. Secondly, electronic band structures are computed indicating that V$_2$C is metallic as well as all the corresponding functionalized systems. Thirdly, the vibrational properties (phonon frequencies and spectra) of V$_2$C-based MXenes are computed thanks to density functional perturbation theory and reported for the first time. Both Raman (E$_g$, A$_{1g}$) and infrared active (E$_u$, A$_{2u}$) vibrational modes are predicted \textit{ab initio} with the aim to correlate the experimental Raman peaks with the calculated vibrational modes and to assign them with specific atomic motions. The effect of the terminal groups on the vibrational properties is emphasized as well as on the presence and position of the corresponding Raman peaks. Our results provide new insights for the identification and characterization of V$_2$C-based samples using Raman spectroscopy.

physics.chem-ph↗

arXiv2014

Revealing the electronic band structure of trilayer graphene on SiC: An angle-resolved photoemission study

In recent times, trilayer graphene has attracted wide attention owing to its stacking and electric field dependent electronic properties. However, a direct and well-resolved experimental visualization of its band structure has not yet been reported. In this work, we present angle resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) data which show with high resolution the electronic band structure of trilayer graphene obtained on α-SiC(0001) and β-SiC(111) via hydrogen intercalation. Electronic bands obtained from tight-binding calculations are fitted to the experimental data to extract the interatomic hopping parameters for Bernal and rhombohedral stacked trilayers. Low energy electron microscopy (LEEM) measurements demonstrate that the trilayer domains extend over areas of tens of square micrometers, suggesting the feasibility of exploiting this material in electronic and photonic devices. Furthermore, our results suggest that on SiC substrates the occurrence of rhombohedral stacked trilayer is significantly higher than in natural bulk graphite.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2013

Epitaxial graphene morphologies probed by weak (anti)-localization

We show how the weak field magneto-conductance can be used as a tool to characterize epitaxial graphene samples grown from the C or the Si face of Silicon Carbide, with mobilities ranging from 120 to 12000 cm^2/(V.s). Depending on the growth conditions, we observe anti-localization and/or localization which can be understood in term of weak-localization related to quantum interferences. The inferred characteristic diffusion lengths are in agreement with the scanning tunneling microscopy and the theoretical model which describe the "pure" mono-layer and bilayer of graphene [MacCann et al,. Phys. Rev. Lett. 97, 146805 (2006)].

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2011

Large area quasi-free standing monolayer graphene on 3C-SiC(111)

Large scale, homogeneous quasi-free standing monolayer graphene is obtained on cubic silicon carbide, i.e. the 3C-SiC(111) surface, which represents an appealing and cost effective platform for graphene growth. The quasi-free monolayer is produced by intercalation of hydrogen under the interfacial, (6root3x6root3)R30-reconstructed carbon layer. After intercalation, angle resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) reveals sharp linear pi-bands. The decoupling of graphene from the substrate is identified by X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS) and low energy electron diffraction (LEED). Atomic force microscopy (AFM) and low energy electron microscopy (LEEM) demonstrate that homogeneous monolayer domains extend over areas of hundreds of square-micrometers.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗