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Xian Jun Loh

Publications and source records attributed to Xian Jun Loh.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

Electrical Control Grain Dimensionality with Multilevel Magnetic Anisotropy

In alignment with the increasing demand for larger storage capacity and longer data retention, electrical control of magnetic anisotropy has been a research focus in the realm of spintronics. Typically, magnetic anisotropy is determined by grain dimensionality, which is set during the fabrication of magnetic thin films. Despite the intrinsic correlation between magnetic anisotropy and grain dimensionality, there is a lack of experimental evidence for electrically controlling grain dimensionality, thereby impeding the efficiency of magnetic anisotropy modulation. Here, we demonstrate an electric field control of grain dimensionality and prove it as the active mechanism for tuning interfacial magnetism. The reduction in grain dimensionality is associated with a transition from ferromagnetic to superparamagnetic behavior. We achieve a non-volatile and reversible modulation of the coercivity in both the ferromagnetic and superparamagnetic regimes. Subsequent electrical and elemental analysis confirms the variation in grain dimensionality upon the application of gate voltages, revealing a transition from a multidomain to a single-domain state accompanied by a reduction in grain dimensionality. Furthermore, we exploit the influence of grain dimensionality on domain wall motion, extending its applicability to multilevel magnetic memory and synaptic devices. Our results provide a strategy for tuning interfacial magnetism through grain size engineering for advancements in high-performance spintronics.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci

Giant third-order nonlinear Hall effect in misfit layer compound (SnS)${1.17}$(NbS$_2$)$_3$

Nonlinear Hall effect (NLHE) holds immense significance in recognizing the band geometry and its potential applications in current rectification. Recent discoveries have expanded the study from second-order to third-order nonlinear Hall effect (THE), which is governed by an intrinsic band geometric quantity called the Berry Connection Polarizability (BCP) tensor. Here we demonstrate a giant THE in a misfit layer compound, (SnS)${1.17}$(NbS$_2$)$_3$. While the THE is prohibited in individual NbS$_2$ and SnS due to the constraints imposed by the crystal symmetry and their band structures, a remarkable THE emerges when a superlattice is formed by introducing a monolayer of SnS. The angular-dependent THE and its scaling relationship indicate that the phenomenon could be correlated to the band geometry modulation, concurrently with the symmetry breaking. The resulting strength of THE is orders of magnitude higher compared to recent studies. Our work illuminates the modulation of structural and electronic geometries for novel quantum phenomena through interface engineering.

cond-mat.mes-hall

Multifunctional magnetic oxide-MoS$_2$ heterostructures on silicon

Correlated oxides and related heterostructures are intriguing for developing future multifunctional devices by exploiting their exotic properties, but their integration with other materials, especially on Si-based platforms, is challenging. Here, van der Waals heterostructures of La$_{0.7}$Sr$_{0.3}$MnO$_3$ (LSMO), a correlated manganite perovskite, and MoS$_2$ are demonstrated on Si substrates with multiple functions. To overcome the problems due to the incompatible growth process, technologies involving freestanding LSMO membranes and van der Waals force-mediated transfer are used to fabricate the LSMO-MoS$_2$ heterostructures. The LSMO-MoS$_2$ heterostructures exhibit a gate-tunable rectifying behavior, based on which metal-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MESFETs) with on-off ratios of over 104 can be achieved. The LSMO-MoS$_2$ heterostructures can function as photodiodes displaying considerable open-circuit voltages and photocurrents. In addition, the colossal magnetoresistance of LSMO endows the LSMO-MoS$_2$ heterostructures with an electrically tunable magnetoresponse at room temperature. This work not only proves the applicability of the LSMO-MoS$_2$ heterostructure devices on Si-based platform but also demonstrates a paradigm to create multifunctional heterostructures from materials with disparate properties.

cond-mat.str-el

Competition of electronic correlation and reconstruction in La1-xSrxTiO3/SrTiO3 heterostructures

Electronic correlation and reconstruction are two important factors that play a critical role in shaping the magnetic and electronic properties of correlated low-dimensional systems. Here, we report a competition between the electronic correlation and structural reconstruction in La1-xSrxTiO3/SrTiO3 heterostructures by modulating material polarity and interfacial strain, respectively. The heterostructures exhibit a critical thickness (tc) at which a metal-to-insulator transition (MIT) abruptly occurs at certain thickness, accompanied by the coexistence of two- and three-dimensional (2D and 3D) carriers. Intriguingly, the tc exhibits a V-shaped dependence on the doping concentration of Sr, with the smallest tc value at x = 0.5. We attribute this V-shaped dependence to the competition between the electronic reconstruction (modulated by the polarity) and the electronic correlation (modulated by strain), which are borne out by the experimental results, including strain-dependent electronic properties and the evolution of 2D and 3D carriers. Our findings underscore the significance of the interplay between electronic reconstruction and correlation in the realization and utilization of emergent electronic functionalities in low-dimensional correlated systems.

cond-mat.str-el

Two-dimensional layered materials meet perovskite oxides: A combination for high-performance electronic devices

As the Si-based transistors scale down to atomic dimensions, the basic principle of current electronics, which heavily relies on the tunable charge degree of freedom, faces increasing challenges to meet the future requirements of speed, switching energy, heat dissipation, packing density as well as functionalities. Heterogeneous integration, where dissimilar layers of materials and functionalities are unrestrictedly stacked at an atomic scale, is appealing to next-generation electronics, such as multi-functional, neuromorphic, spintronic and ultra-low power devices, because it unlocks technologically useful interfaces of distinct functionalities. Recently, the combination of functional perovskite oxides and the two-dimensional layered materials (2DLMs) led to unexpected functionalities and enhanced device performance. In this review, we review the recent progress of the heterogeneous integration of perovskite oxides and 2DLMs from the perspectives of fabrication and interfacial properties, electronic applications, challenges as well as outlooks. In particular, we focus on three types of attractive applications, namely field-effect transistors, memory, and neuromorphic electronics. The van der Waals integration approach is extendible to other oxides and 2DLMs, leading to almost unlimited combinations of oxides and 2DLMs and contributing to future high-performance electronic and spintronic devices.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci