No abstract

Transmission electron microscopes use electrons with wavelengths of a few picometers, potentially capable of imaging individual atoms in solids at a resolution ultimately set by the intrinsic size of an atom. However, owing to lens aberrations and multiple scattering of electrons in the sample, the image resolution is reduced by a factor of 3 to 10. By inversely solving the multiple scattering problem and overcoming the electron-probe aberrations using electron ptychography, we demonstrate an instrumental blurring of less than 20 picometers and a linear phase response in thick samples. The measured widths of atomic columns are limited by thermal fluctuations of the atoms. Our method is also capable of locating embedded atomic dopant atoms in all three dimensions with subnanometer precision from only a single projection measurement.

The emergence of two-dimensional (2D) magnetic crystals and moiré engineering of van der Waals materials has opened the door for devising new magnetic ground states via competing interactions in moiré superlattices 1-9 . Although a suite of interesting phenomena, including multi-flavor magnetic states 10 , noncollinear magnetic states 10-13 , moiré magnon bands and magnon networks 14 , has been predicted in twisted bilayer magnetic crystals, nontrivial magnetic ground states have yet to be realized. Here, by utilizing the stacking-dependent interlayer exchange interactions in CrI3 (Ref. 15, 16 ), we demonstrate in small-twist-angle CrI3 bilayers a noncollinear magnetic ground state. It consists of antiferromagnetic (AF) and ferromagnetic (FM) domains and is a result of the competing interlayer AF coupling in the monoclinic stacking regions of the moiré superlattice and the energy cost for forming AF-FM domain walls. Above a critical twist angle of ~ 𝟑°, the noncollinear state transitions to a collinear FM ground state. We further show that the noncollinear magnetic state can be controlled by electrical gating through the doping-dependent interlayer AF interaction. Our results demonstrate the possibility of engineering new magnetic ground states in twisted bilayer magnetic crystals, as well as gate-voltage-controllable high-density magnetic memory storage.Moiré superlattices built on twisted bilayers of van der Waals materials have presented an exciting platform for studying correlated states of matter with unprecedented controllability [7][8][9] . In addition to graphene and transition metal dichalcogenide moiré materials 17 , recent theoretical studies have predicted the emergence of new magnetic ground states in twisted bilayers of 2D magnetic crystals [10][11][12][13][14] . These states are originated from the stacking-dependent interlayer exchange interactions in magnetic moiré superlattices. Two-dimensional CrI3 (similarly CrBr3 18 and CrCl3 19 ), in which stackingdependent interlayer magnetic ground states have been demonstrated by recent experiments 15, 16 , is a good candidate for exploring moiré magnetism.

No abstract

We demonstrate here that the nanostructure of poly(3-hexylthiophene) and [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (P3HT/PCBM) bulk heterojunction (BHJ) can be tuned by inorganic nanoparticles (INPs) for enhanced solar cell performance. The self-organized nanostructural evolution of P3HT/PCBM/INPs thin films was investigated by using simultaneous grazing-incidence small-angle X-ray scattering (GISAXS) and grazing-incidence wide-angle X-ray scattering (GIWAXS) technique. Including INPs into P3HT/PCBM leads to (1) diffusion of PCBM molecules into aggregated PCBM clusters and (2) formation of interpenetrating networks that contain INPs which interact with amorphous P3HT polymer chains that are intercalated with PCBM molecules. Both of the nanostructures provide efficient pathways for free electron transport. The distinctive INP-tuned nanostructures are thermally stable and exhibit significantly enhanced electron mobility, external quantum efficiency, and photovoltaic device performance. These gains over conventional P3HT/PCBM directly result from newly demonstrated nanostructure. This work provides an attractive strategy for manipulating the phase-separated BHJ layers and also increases insight into nanostructural evolution when INPs are incorporated into BHJs.

No abstract

Novel magnetic ground states have been stabilized in two-dimensional (2D) magnets such as skyrmions, with the potential next-generation information technology. Here, we report the experimental observation of a Néel-type skyrmion lattice at room temperature in a single-phase, layered 2D magnet, specifically a 50% Co–doped Fe 5 GeTe 2 (FCGT) system. The thickness-dependent magnetic domain size follows Kittel’s law. The static spin textures and spin dynamics in FCGT nanoflakes were studied by Lorentz electron microscopy, variable-temperature magnetic force microscopy, micromagnetic simulations, and magnetotransport measurements. Current-induced skyrmion lattice motion was observed at room temperature, with a threshold current density, j th = 1 × 10 6 A/cm 2 . This discovery of a skyrmion lattice at room temperature in a noncentrosymmetric material opens the way for layered device applications and provides an ideal platform for studies of topological and quantum effects in 2D.

Two-dimensional (2D) magnetic van der Waals materials provide a powerful platform for studying fundamental physics of low-dimensional magnetism, engineering novel magnetic phases, and enabling ultrathin and highly tunable spintronic devices. To realize high quality and practical devices for such applications, there is a critical need for robust 2D magnets with ordering temperatures above room temperature that can be created via exfoliation. Here the study of exfoliated flakes of cobalt substituted Fe5GeTe2 (CFGT) exhibiting magnetism above room temperature is reported. Via quantum magnetic imaging with nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond, ferromagnetism at room temperature was observed in CFGT flakes as thin as 16 nm. This corresponds to one of the thinnest room-temperature 2D magnet flakes exfoliated from robust single crystals, reaching a thickness relevant to practical spintronic applications.The Curie temperature Tc of CFGT ranges from 310 K in the thinnest flake studied to 328 K in the bulk. To investigate the prospect of high-temperature monolayer ferromagnetism, Monte Carlo calculations were performed which predicted a high value of Tc ~270 K in CFGT monolayers. Pathways towards further enhancing monolayer Tc are discussed. These results support CFGT as a promising platform to realize high-quality room-temperature 2D magnet devices. IntroductionReceived: ((will be filled in by the editorial staff))Revised: ((will be filled in by the editorial staff))