Magnetic Field Magnitudes Needed for Skyrmion Generation in a General Perpendicularly Magnetized Film.

Due to its topological protection, the magnetic skyrmion has been intensively studied for both fundamental aspects and spintronics applications. However, despite recent advancements in skyrmion research, the deterministic creation of isolated skyrmions in a generic perpendicularly magnetized film is still one of the most essential and challenging techniques. Here, we present a method to create magnetic skyrmions in typical perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) films by applying a magnetic field pulse and a method to determine the magnitude of the required external magnetic fields. Furthermore, to demonstrate the usefulness of this result for future skyrmion research, we also experimentally study the PMA dependence on the minimum size of skyrmions. Although field-driven skyrmion generation is unsuitable for device application, this result can provide an easier approach for obtaining isolated skyrmions, making skyrmion-based research more accessible.

Direct Observation of Room-Temperature Magnetic Skyrmion Motion Driven by Ultra-Low Current Density in Van Der Waals Ferromagnets.

The recent discovery of room-temperature ferromagnetism in 2D van der Waals (vdW) materials, such as Fe3GaTe2 (FGaT), has garnered significant interest in offering a robust platform for 2D spintronic applications. Various fundamental operations essential for the realization of 2D spintronics devices are experimentally confirmed using these materials at room temperature, such as current-induced magnetization switching or tunneling magnetoresistance. Nevertheless, the potential applications of magnetic skyrmions in FGaT systems at room temperature remain unexplored. In this work, the current-induced generation of magnetic skyrmions in FGaT flakes employing high-resolution magnetic transmission soft X-ray microscopy is introduced, supported by a feasible mechanism based on thermal effects. Furthermore, direct observation of the current-induced magnetic skyrmion motion at room temperature in FGaT flakes is presented with ultra-low threshold current density. This work highlights the potential of FGaT as a foundation for room-temperature-operating 2D skyrmion device applications.

Wafer-Scale Synthesis of Highly Oriented 2D Topological Semimetal PtTe2 via Tellurization.

Platinum ditelluride (1T-PtTe2) is a two-dimensional (2D) topological semimetal with a distinctive band structure and flexibility of van der Waals integration as a promising candidate for future electronics and spintronics. Although the synthesis of large-scale, uniform, and highly crystalline films of 2D semimetals system is a prerequisite for device application, the synthetic methods meeting these criteria are still lacking. Here, we introduce an approach to synthesize highly oriented 2D topological semimetal PtTe2 using a thermally assisted conversion called tellurization, which is a cost-efficient method compared to the other epitaxial deposition methods. We demonstrate that achieving highly crystalline 1T-PtTe2 using tellurization is not dependent on epitaxy but rather relies on two critical factors: (i) the crystallinity of the predeposited platinum (Pt) film and (ii) the surface coverage ratio of the Pt film considering lateral lattice expansion during transformation. By optimizing the surface coverage ratio of the epitaxial Pt film, we successfully obtained 2 in. wafer-scale uniformity without in-plane misalignment between antiparallelly oriented domains. The electronic band structure of 2D topological PtTe2 is clearly resolved in momentum space, and we observed an interesting 6-fold gapped Dirac cone at the Fermi surface. Furthermore, ultrahigh electrical conductivity down to ∼3.8 nm, which is consistent with that of single crystal PtTe2, was observed, proving its ultralow defect density.

Measurement of spin-orbit torque using field counterbalancing in radial current geometry.

Controlling the direction of magnetization with an electric current, rather than a magnetic field, is a powerful technique in spintronics. Spin-orbit torque, which generates an effective magnetic field from the injected current, is a promising method for this purpose. Here we show an approach for quantifying the magnitude of spin-orbit torque from a single magnetic image. To achieve this, we deposited two concentric electrodes on top of the magnetic sample to flow a radial current. By counterbalancing the current effect with an external magnetic field, we can create a stable circular magnetization state. We measure the magnitude of spin-orbit torque from the stable radius, providing a new tool for characterizing spin-orbit torque.

Dopamine-Regulated Plasticity in MoO3 Synaptic Transistors.

Field-effect transistor-based biosensors have gained increasing interest due to their reactive surface to external stimuli and the adaptive feedback required for advanced sensing platforms in biohybrid neural interfaces. However, complex probing methods for surface functionalization remain a challenge that limits the industrial implementation of such devices. Herein, a simple, label-free biosensor based on molybdenum oxide (MoO3) with dopamine-regulated plasticity is demonstrated. Dopamine oxidation facilitated locally at the channel surface initiates a charge transfer mechanism between the molecule and the oxide, altering the channel conductance and successfully emulating the tunable synaptic weight by neurotransmitter activity. The oxygen level of the channel is shown to heavily affect the device's electrochemical properties, shifting from a nonreactive metallic characteristic to highly responsive semiconducting behavior. Controllable responsivity is achieved by optimizing the channel's dimension, which allows the devices to operate in wide ranges of dopamine concentration, from 100 nM to sub-mM levels, with excellent selectivity compared with K+, Na+, and Ca2+.

Magnetic Skyrmion Transistor Gated with Voltage-Controlled Magnetic Anisotropy.

The paradigm shift of information carriers from charge to spin has long been awaited in modern electronics. The invention of the spin-information transistor is expected to be an essential building block for the future development of spintronics. Here, a proof-of-concept experiment of a magnetic skyrmion transistor working at room temperature, which has never been demonstrated experimentally, is introduced. With the spatially uniform control of magnetic anisotropy, the shape and topology of a skyrmion when passing the controlled area can be maintained. The findings will open a new route toward the design and realization of skyrmion-based spintronic devices in the near future.

Universal Hopping Motion Protected by Structural Topology.

A scaling law elucidates the universality in nature, presiding over many physical phenomena which seem unrelated. Thus, exploring the universality class of scaling law in a particular system enlightens its physical nature in relevance to other systems and sometimes unearths an unprecedented new dynamic phase. Here, the dynamics of weakly driven magnetic skyrmions are investigated, and its scaling law is compared with the motion of a magnetic domain wall (DW) creep. This study finds that the skyrmion does not follow the scaling law of the DW creep in 2D space but instead shows a hopping behavior similar to that of the particle-like DW in 1D confinement. In addition, the hopping law satisfies even when a topological charge of the skyrmion is removed. Therefore, the distinct scaling behavior between the magnetic skyrmion and the DW stems from a general principle beyond the topological charge. This study demonstrates that the hopping behavior of skyrmions originates from the bottleneck process induced by DW segments with diverging collective lengths, which is inevitable in any closed-shape spin structure in 2D. This work reveals that the structural topology of magnetic texture determines the universality class of its weakly driven motion, which is distinguished from the universality class of magnetic DW creep.

Electrical Generation and Deletion of Magnetic Skyrmion-Bubbles via Vertical Current Injection.

The magnetic skyrmion is a topologically protected spin texture that has attracted much attention as a promising information carrier because of its distinct features of suitability for high-density storage, low power consumption, and stability. One of the skyrmion devices proposed so far is the skyrmion racetrack memory, which is the skyrmion version of the domain-wall racetrack memory. For application in devices, skyrmion racetrack memory requires electrical generation, deletion, and displacement of isolated skyrmions. Despite the progress in experimental demonstrations of skyrmion generation, deletion, and displacement, these three operations have yet to be realized in one device. Here, a route for generating and deleting isolated skyrmion-bubbles through vertical current injection with an explanation of its microscopic origin is presented. By combining the proposed skyrmion-bubble generation/deletion method with the spin-orbit-torque-driven skyrmion shift, a proof-of-concept experimental demonstration of the skyrmion racetrack memory operation in a three-terminal device structure is provided.

Highly Efficient Solar Steam Generation by Glassy Carbon Foam Coated with Two-Dimensional Metal Chalcogenides.

Steam generation by eco-friendly solar energy has immense potential in terms of low-cost power generation, desalination, sanitization, and wastewater treatment. Herein, highly efficient steam generation in a bilayer solar steam generator (BSSG) is demonstrated, which is comprised of a large-area SnSe-SnSe2 layer deposited on a glassy carbon foam (CF). Both CF and SnSe-SnSe2 possess high photothermal conversion capabilities and low thermal conductivities. The combined bilayer system cumulatively converts input solar light into heat through phonon-assisted transitions in the indirect band gap SnSe-SnSe2 layer, together with trapping of sunlight via multiple scattering due to the porous morphology of the CF. This synergistic effect leads to efficient broadband solar absorption. Moreover, the low out-of-plane thermal conductivities of SnSe-SnSe2 and CF confine the generated heat at the evaporation surface, resulting in a significant reduction of heat losses. Additionally, the hydrophilic nature of the acid-treated CF offers effective water transport via capillary action, required for efficient solar steam generation in a floating form. A high evaporation rate (1.28 kg m-2 h-1) and efficiency (84.1%) are acquired under 1 sun irradiation. The BSSG system shows high recyclability, stability, and durability under repeated steam-generation cycles, which renders its practical device applications possible.