C. J. Kinane

Molecular weight dependent vertical composition profiles of PCDTBT:PC71BM blends for organic photovoltaics

We have used Soxhlet solvent purification to fractionate a broad molecular weight distribution of the polycarbazole polymer PCDTBT into three lower polydispersity molecular weight fractions. Organic photovoltaic devices were made using a blend of the fullerene acceptor PC71BM with the molecular weight fractions. An average power conversion efficiency of 5.89% (peak efficiency of 6.15%) was measured for PCDTBT blend devices with a number average molecular weight of Mn = 25.5 kDa. There was significant variation between the molecular weight fractions with low (Mn = 15.0 kDa) and high (Mn = 34.9 kDa) fractions producing devices with average efficiencies of 5.02% and 3.70% respectively. Neutron reflectivity measurements on these polymer:PC71BM blend layers showed that larger molecular weights leads to an increase in the polymer enrichment layer thickness at the anode interface, this improves efficiency up to a limiting point where the polymer solubility causes a reduction of the PCDTBT concentration in the active layer.

Magnetic ordering in Cr-doped Bi2Se3 thin films

We report the structural and magnetic study of Cr-doped Bi2Se3 thin films using x-ray diffraction (XRD), magnetometry and polarized neutron reflectometry (PNR). Epitaxial layers were grown on c-plane sapphire by molecular beam epitaxy in a two-step process. High-resolution XRD shows the exceptionally high crystalline quality of the doped films with no parasitic phases up to a Cr concentration of 12% (in % of the Bi sites occupied by substitutional Cr). The magnetic moment, measured by SQUID magnetometry, was found to be per Cr ion. The magnetic hysteresis curve shows an open loop with a coercive field of . The ferromagnetic transition temperature was determined to be analyzing the magnetization-temperature gradient. PNR shows the film to be homogeneously ferromagnetic with no enhanced magnetism near the surface or interface.

Controlled suppression of superconductivity by the generation of polarized Cooper pairs in spin valve structures

(Received 10 April 2014; revised manuscript received 13 January 2015; published 2 February 2015) Transport measurements are presented on thin-film superconducting spin-valve systems, where the controlled noncollinear arrangement of two ferromagnetic Co layers can be used to influence the superconducting state of Nb. We observe a very clear oscillation of the superconducting transition temperature with the relative orientation of the two ferromagnetic layers. Our measurements allow us to distinguish between the competing influences of domain averaging, stray dipolar fields, and the formation of superconducting spin triplets. Domain averaging is shown to lead to a weak enhancement of transition temperature for the antiparallel configuration of exchange fields, while much larger changes are observed for other configurations, which can be attributed to drainage currents due to spin triplet formation.

Remotely induced magnetism in a normal metal using a superconducting spin-valve

A switchable induced magnetic moment in a non-magnetic metal that is separated from a ferromagnet by a thick superconducting layer contradicts existing models.

Room Temperature Ferrimagnetism and Ferroelectricity in Strained, Thin Films of BiFe0.5Mn0.5O3

Highly strained films of BiFe0.5Mn0.5O3 (BFMO) grown at very low rates by pulsed laser deposition were demonstrated to exhibit both ferrimagnetism and ferroelectricity at room temperature and above. Magnetisation measurements demonstrated ferrimagnetism (TC ∼ 600K), with a room temperature saturation moment (MS) of up to 90 emu/cc (∼ 0.58 μB/f.u) on high quality (001) SrTiO3. X-ray magnetic circular dichroism showed that the ferrimagnetism arose from antiferromagnetically coupled Fe3+ and Mn3+. While scanning transmission electron microscope studies showed there was no long range ordering of Fe and Mn, the magnetic properties were found to be strongly dependent on the strain state in the films. The magnetism is explained to arise from one of three possible mechanisms with Bi polarization playing a key role. A signature of room temperature ferroelectricity in the films was measured by piezoresponse force microscopy and was confirmed using angular dark field scanning transmission electron microscopy. The demonstration of strain induced, high temperature multiferroism is a promising development for future spintronic and memory applications at room temperature and above.

Observation of a temperature dependent asymmetry in the domain structure of a Pd-doped FeRh epilayer

Using X-ray photoelectron emission microscopy we have observed the coexistence of ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic phases in a (3 at.%)Pd-doped FeRh epilayer. By quantitatively analyzing the resultant images we observe that as the epilayer transforms there is a change in magnetic domain symmetry from predominantly twofold at lower temperatures through to an equally weighted combination of both four and twofold symmetries at higher temperature. It is postulated that the lowered symmetry Ising-like nematic phase resides at the near-surface of the epilayer. This behavior is different to that of undoped FeRh suggesting that the variation in symmetry is driven by the competing structural and electronic interactions in the nanoscale FeRh film coupled with the effect of the chemical doping disorder.

Sign Control of Magnetoresistance Through Chemically Engineered Interfaces

Chemically engineered interfaces are shown to produce inversions of the magnetoresistance in spintronic devices including lithium fluoride interlayers. This behavior is explained by the formation of anti-ferromagnetic difluoride layers. By changing the order of deposition of the different materials, the sign of the magnetoresistance can be deterministically controlled both in organic spin valves and in inorganic magnetic tunnel junctions.

Advances in Neutron Reflectometry at ISIS

Neutron reflectometry is a well established technique for the study of nanometre scale layered systems which are of direct relevance to a broad range of disciplines cutting across the physical and life sciences [1,2,3]. The second target station (TS2) at ISIS [4] is optimised to produce a large flux of cold neutrons, which when coupled with the large wavelength bandwidth provided by the 10Hz repetition rate offers the possibility for a step change in capability for the study of nanoscale systems.

Interfacial Origin of the Magnetisation Suppression of Thin Film Yttrium Iron Garnet

Yttrium iron garnet has a very high Verdet constant, is transparent in the infrared and is an insulating ferrimagnet leading to its use in optical and magneto-optical applications. Its high Q-factor has been exploited to make resonators and filters in microwave devices, but it also has the lowest magnetic damping of any known material. In this article we describe the structural and magnetic properties of single crystal thin-film YIG where the temperature dependence of the magnetisation reveals a decrease in the low temperature region. In order to understand this complex material we bring a large number of structural and magnetic techniques to bear on the same samples. Through a comprehensive analysis we show that at the substrate -YIG interface, an interdiffusion zone of only 4–6 nm exists. Due to the interdiffusion of Y from the YIG and Gd from the substrate, an addition magnetic layer is formed at the interface whose properties are crucially important in samples with a thickness of YIG less than 200 nm.

Reduction of Threshold Current for Domain Wall Depinning Using Gd Doping of Permalloy

The dependence of threshold current on applied magnetic field for domain wall depinning from a pinning potential in Gd doped permalloy wires is measured using pulsed current measurements. By increasing the Gd concentration we find a marked reduction in threshold currents. This is shown to arise due to the enhanced non-adiabatic spin-transfer torque: we calculate the non-adiabaticity parameter β to be around 0.11 for 10% Gd concentration. On the other hand we show that the adiabatic spin-transfer torque is largely unaffected by Gd concentrations up to 10%.