Coherent helicity-dependent spin-phonon oscillations in the ferromagnetic van der Waals crystal CrI3.

The discovery of two-dimensional systems hosting intrinsic magnetic order represents a seminal addition to the rich landscape of van der Waals materials. CrI3 is an archetypal example, where the interdependence of structure and magnetism, along with strong light-matter interactions, provides a new platform to explore the optical control of magnetic and vibrational degrees of freedom at the nanoscale. However, the nature of magneto-structural coupling on its intrinsic ultrafast timescale remains a crucial open question. Here, we probe magnetic and vibrational dynamics in bulk CrI3 using ultrafast optical spectroscopy, revealing spin-flip scattering-driven demagnetization and strong transient exchange-mediated interactions between lattice vibrations and spin oscillations. The latter yields a coherent spin-coupled phonon mode that is highly sensitive to the driving pulse's helicity in the magnetically ordered phase. Our results elucidate the nature of ultrafast spin-lattice coupling in CrI3 and highlight its potential for applications requiring high-speed control of magnetism at the nanoscale.

Spin dynamics and relaxation in graphene nanoribbons: electron spin resonance probing.

Here we report the results of a multifrequency (~9, 20, 34, 239.2, and 336 GHz) variable-temperature continuous wave (cw) and X-band (~9 GHz) pulse electron spin resonance (ESR) measurement performed at cryogenic temperatures on potassium split graphene nanoribbons (GNRs). Important experimental findings include the following: (a) The multifrequency cw ESR data infer the presence of only carbon-related paramagnetic nonbonding states, at any measured temperature, with the g value independent of microwave frequency and temperature. (b) A linear broadening of the ESR signal as a function of microwave frequency is noticed. The observed linear frequency dependence of ESR signal width points to a distribution of g factors causing the non-Lorentzian line shape, and the g broadening contribution is found to be very small. (c) The ESR process is found to be characterized by slow and fast components, whose temperature dependences could be well described by a tunneling level state model. This work not only could help in advancing the present fundamental understanding on the edge spin (or magnetic)-based properties of GNRs but also pave the way to GNR-based spin devices.

Self-assembly of magnetic Ni nanoparticles into 1D arrays with antiferromagnetic order.

In this paper, we report on the magnetic properties of isolated nanoparticles and interacting nanochains formed by the self-assembly of Ni nanoparticles. The magnetic properties were studied using superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometry and magnetic force microscopy (MFM). We demonstrate that single-domain Ni nanoparticles spontaneously form one-dimensional (1D) chains under the influence of an external magnetic field. Furthermore, such magnetic field-driven self-assembly in conjunction with surface templating produces regular arrays of 1D nanochains with antiferromagnetic intra-chain order. The antiferromagnetic order, which is in striking contrast to what is found for non-interacting nanoparticle assemblies within the chains, can be evidenced from MFM and SQUID measurements.

Atomic force and ultrasonic force microscopy investigation of adsorbed layers formed by two incompatible polymers: polystyrene and poly(butyl methacrylate).

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) and ultrasonic force microscopy (UFM) have been used to study the properties of adsorption layers formed by two incompatible polymers, polystyrene and poly(butyl methacrylate), in the course of simultaneous adsorption on the surface of silica (naturally oxidized surface of a silicon wafer). The adsorption was performed from solutions containing both of the components in a common solvent (carbon tetrachloride) in dilute and semidilute concentration regimes. It was discovered that in both cases the structure of adsorption layers has a complex mosaic structure, the details of which depend on solution composition, on the solution concentration regime, and on the ratio of the components in the adsorption layer. The observed structural inhomogeneity on the length scale of approximately 200-500 nm (distribution of segment density revealed by UFM) appears as result of thermodynamic incompatibility in the system and is conditioned by changes in the conformation states of the adsorbed macromolecules in the route of competitive adsorption of the components. The adsorbed polymer films with thicknesses of approximately 20-500 nm appeared to have fractal properties and could be characterized with fractal dimensions dependent on the ratio of the components at the interface and the adsorption conditions.

Micro orientation and anisotropy of conductivity in liquid crystalline polymer films filled with carbon nanotubes.

In this communication we report the preferential orientation of single wall carbon nanotubes (SWNT) in a nematic liquid crystalline (LC) polymer matrix. The alignment of the nanotubes was characterized through anisotropy of electrical conductivity of the composite measured in directions parallel and perpendicular to the nematic director. The anisotropy of the nanocomposite films strongly depends on the nanotube concentration in the range from 1 to 10% and vanished at higher loads. The electrical conductivity of nanocomposites is related to their structural features revealed by atomic force microscopy and Raman spectroscopy experiments and is explained by a strong coupling between the nanotubes and the polymer matrix.