Magnetic properties of self-organized Co dimer nanolines on Si/Ag(110).

We demonstrate the kinetically controlled growth of one-dimensional Co nanomagnets with a high lateral order on a nanopatterned Ag(110) surface. First, self-organized Si nanoribbons are formed upon submonolayer condensation of Si on the anisotropic Ag(110) surface. Depending on the growth temperature, individual or regular arrays (with a pitch of 2 nm) of Si nanoribbons can be grown. Next, the Si/Ag(110) system is used as a novel one-dimensional Si template to guide the growth of Co dimer nanolines on top of the Si nanoribbons, taking advantage of the fact that the thermally activated process of Co diffusion into the Si layer is efficiently hindered at 220 K. Magnetic characterization of the Co nanolines using X-ray magnetic circular dichroism reveals that the first atomic Co layer directly adsorbed onto the Si nanoribbons presents a weak magnetic response. However, the second Co layer exhibits an enhanced magnetization, strongly suggesting a ferromagnetic ordering with an in-plane easy axis of magnetization, which is perpendicular to the Co nanolines.

Silicon sheets by redox assisted chemical exfoliation.

In this paper, we report the direct chemical synthesis of silicon sheets in gram-scale quantities by chemical exfoliation of pre-processed calcium disilicide (CaSi2). We have used a combination of x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy to characterize the obtained silicon sheets. We found that the clean and crystalline silicon sheets show a two-dimensional hexagonal graphitic structure.

Cumulative mechanical moments and microstructure deformation induced by growth shape in columnar solidification.

The dynamical interaction between columnar interface microstructure and self-stress, resulting in unforeseen mechanical deformation phenomena, is brought to light by means of in situ and real-time synchrotron x-ray topography during directional solidification of dilute aluminum alloys. Beyond long-known local mechanical stresses, global mechanical constraints are found to be active. In particular, column rotation results from deformation caused by the mechanical moments associated with the very growth shape, namely, the cumulative torque acting together with the cumulative bending moment under gravity. A basic model allowing for a qualitative explanation of the observed distinctive features of the self-stress effects on microstructure dynamics is proposed.