arXiv subjects

Y. G. Zhao

Publications and source records attributed to Y. G. Zhao.

13 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2012

"Annular" ferroelectric domains in hexagonal manganites

Structural features of ferroic domains are fundamentally important for the understanding of microstructure and physical properties of ferroic materials, and they are also of technological significance for information storage and electronic switches. There are three well-known forms of ferroic orders in correlation with the spontaneous magnetization, electric polarization, and spontaneous strain, respectively. Ferroelectricity often accompanies ferroelastic strain, so ferroelectric domains tend to form in simple elongated configurations. However, due to strong boundary conditions, ferroelectric domains in nano-materials or near defects can have unusual configurations. In addition, vortex domains where multiple ferroelectric domains merge at one point have been observed in YMnO3. Herein, we report the discovery of unique ferroelectric domains with a concentric cylindrical shape in hexagonal manganites. We have also observed remarkable domains with multiple annular patterns. Our findings could open a new avenue for comprehensive studies of the ferroic domains, and this novel pattern could also leads to possibilities for new technologic applications.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2008

Nonlinear current-voltage behavior and electrically driven phase transition in charge frustrated LuFe2O4

Electric transport measurements of the charge frustrated LuFe2O4, in which the charge ordering (CO) and electronic ferroelectricity are found, reveal strong nonlinear electric conduction upon application of electrical field in both single crystalline and polycrystalline samples. The threshold electric fields (Et) in single crystalline LuFe2O4 are estimated respectively to be about 60V/cm and 10V/cm with E parallel and perpendicular to the c-axis direction. Experimental measurements also demonstrate that the I-V nonlinearity increases quickly with lowering temperature. Furthermore, our in-situ TEM investigations evidently reveal that the nonlinear I-V behavior is intrinsically in correlation with a current driven charge ordering insulator-metal transition, and the applied electrical field triggers a visible CO collapse recognizable as the fading of satellite spots of the CO modulations.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2008

Multi-ferroelectricity in charge ordered LuFe2O4(LuFeO3)n with n=1

Electronic ferroelectricity from charge ordering (CO) is currently a significant issue that has been extensively investigated in the charge/spin frustrated LuFe2O4 system. Chemical substitution and structural layer intercalation have been considered as potentially effective approaches in our recent study, and we herein report on the structural and multi-ferromagnetic properties in the layered series of LuFe2O4(LuFeO3)n (n=0, 1, and 2). Experimental investigations reveal that the (RFeO3)-layer intercalation results in notable changes in ferroelectricity, magnetic properties and CO features. These results demonstrate that further exploration of this series of layered members might prove fruitful.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2005

Effect of Ti doping on the electrical transport and magnetic properties of layered compound Na0.8CoO2

Effect of Ti doping on the electrical transport and magnetic properties of layered Na0.8Co1-xTixO2 compounds has been investigated. The lattice parameters a and c increase with x. A minor amount of Ti doping results in a metal-insulator transition at low temperatures. For samples with x > 0.03, the variable-range hopping process dominates the transport behavior above a certain temperature. The temperature dependence of magnetization of all the samples is found to obey the Curie-Weiss law. The mechanism of the doping effect is discussed.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2005

Surface morphology, structure and transport property of NaxCoO2 thin films grown by pulsed laser deposition

In this paper, we report the growth of NaxCoO2 thin films by pulsed-laser deposition (PLD). It is shown that the concentration of sodium is very sensitive to the substrate temperature and the target-substrate distance due to the evaporation of sodium during the deposition. alpha prime-phase Na0.75CoO2 and gamma- phase Na0.71CoO2 thin films can be obtained with different conditions. Correspondingly, the surface morphology of the films changes from flake-like to particle-like. The temperature dependence of resistivity for the films prepared with the optimal condition shows metallic behavior, consistent with the data of NaxCoO2 single crystals. This work demonstrates that PLD is a promising technique to get high quality NaxCoO2 thin films.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2005

Universal behavior of giant electroresistance in epitaxial La0.67Ca0.33MnO3 thin films

We report a giant resistance drop induced by dc electrical currents in La0.67Ca0.33MnO3 epitaxial thin films. Resistance of the patterned thin films decreases exponentially with increasing current and a maximum drop shows at the temperature of resistance peak Tp. Variation of resistance with current densities can be scaled below and above Tp, respectively. This work can be useful for the future applications of electroresistance.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2004

Electrical transport and magnetic properties of nanostructured La0.67Ca0.33MnO3

Nanostructured La0.67Ca0.33MnO3 (NS-LCMO) was formed by pulsed-laser deposition on the surface of porous Al2O3. The resistance peak temperature (Tp) of the NS-LCMO increases with increasing average thickness of the films, while their Curie temperatures (Tc) remain unchanged. The coercive field of the samples increases with decreasing film thickness and its temperature dependence can be well described by Hc(T) = Hc(0)[1-(T/TB)1/2]. A large magnetoresistance and strong memory effect were observed for the NS-LCMO. The results are discussed in terms of the size effect, Coulomb blockade and magnetic tunneling effect. This work also demonstrates a new way to get nanostructured manganites.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2003

Effects of Mn-substitution for Co on the structure and physical properties of NayCoO2

Structure, transport and magnetic properties have been investigated for layered NaCo1-xMnxO2 materials. With the increase of Mn-doping amount, measurements of x-ray diffraction indicate that the in-plane lattice parameter a decreases progressively, and, conversely, the lattice parameter c increases rapidly. Small amount of Mn doping (i.e. 3% Mn in our work) could result in a metal-insulator transition. Electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) measurement shows that the Co valence is about 3.3 and remains unchanged with doping. In contrast, the valence of Mn increases rapidly with doping and reaches 3.7 for the sample with x=0.5. The temperature dependence of magnetization of the samples is found to obey the Curie-Weiss law. Some relevant results have been discussed in terms of the disorder effect induced by doping of magnetic ions.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2003

Co-doped LaLa1-xSrxTiO3-d : A Diluted Magnetic Oxide System with High Curie Temperature

Ferromagnetism is observed at and above room temperature in pulsed laser deposited epitaxial films of Co-doped Ti-based oxide perovskite (La1-xSrxTiO3-d). The system has the characteristics of an intrinsic diluted magnetic semiconductor (metal) at low concentrations (<~ 2 %), but develops inhomogeneity at higher cobalt concentrations. The films range from being opaque metallic to transparent semiconducting depending on the oxygen pressure during growth and are yet ferromagnetic.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2001

Influence of the starting composition on the structural and superconducting properties of MgB2 phase

We report the preparation of Mg$_{1-x}$B$_{2}$ (0$\le$x$\le$0.5) compounds with the nominal compositions. Single phase MgB$_{2}$ was obtained for x=0 sample. For 0$<$x$\le$0.5, MgB$_{4}$ coexists with "MgB$_{2}$" and the amount of MgB$_{4}$ increases with x. With the increase of x, the lattice parameter ${\it c}$ of "MgB$_{2}$" increases and the lattice parameter ${\it a}$ decreases, correspondingly T$_{c}$ of Mg$_{1-x}$B$_{2}$ decreases. The results were discussed in terms of the presence of Mg vacancies or B interstitials in the MgB$_{2}$ structure. This work is helpful to the understanding of the MgB$_{2}$ films with different T$_{c}$, as well as the Mg site doping effect for MgB$_{2}$.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2001

Optical Cooper Pair Breaking Spectroscopy of Cuprate Superconductors

The photon energy dependence of optical Cooper pair breaking rate (CPBR) is studied for compressibly strained La1.85Sr0.15CuO4 (LSCO) films and YBa2Cu2.92Zn0.08O7-delta (YBCZO) thin films, and compared to that in YBa2Cu3O7-delta (YBCO). Unlike in the case of YBCO, the CPBR for LSCO does not show obvious photon energy dependence. In YBCZO the CPBR shows strong photon energy dependence similar to YBCO, but with a red shift in the peak position. Analysis of these results strongly favours a physical picture based on electronic phase separation in high Tc superconductivity.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2001

Effect of Li doping on structure and superconducting transition temperature of Mg1-xLixB2

We report the preparation of Mg1-xLixB2 compounds. Nearly single phased samples were obtained for x<0.3. The in-plane lattice parameter a decreases with Li doping, while the lattice parameter c does not show obvious change. The superconducting transition temperature of Mg1-xLixB2 decreases with Li doping and loss of superconductivity occurs for x=0.5 sample. The results of our work are consistent with the prediction of the hole superconductivity mechanism.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2001

Sharp resonant multiplet in femto-second optical pair-breaking spectroscopy of YBa2Cu3O7-delta

Femto-second optical pair breaking spectroscopy is performed on optimally doped YBa2Cu3O7-delta near 1.5eV. Dramatic photon energy dependence with a sharp triplet fine structure is seen for the first time. The peak separations are attributable to the reported phonon and magnetic excitations in the system. The power dependence is non-linear with differing exponents for the three contributions. These results imply the presence of insulating antiferromagnetic domains in the superconducting state of YBCO over sub-picosecond time scale, and thereby favor an electronic phase separation picture.

cond-mat.supr-con↗