D. V. Vyalikh

Strong ferromagnetism at the surface of an antiferromagnet caused by buried magnetic moments

Carrying a large, pure spin magnetic moment of 7 μB per atom in the half-filled 4f shell, divalent europium is an outstanding element for assembling novel magnetic devices in which a two-dimensional electron gas may be polarized due to exchange interaction with an underlying magnetically-active Eu layer. Here we show that the Si-Rh-Si surface trilayer of the antiferromagnet EuRh2Si2 bears a surface state, which exhibits an unexpected and large spin splitting controllable by temperature. The splitting sets in below ~32.5 K, well above the ordering temperature of the Eu 4f moments (~24.5 K) in the bulk, indicating a larger ordering temperature in the topmost Eu layers. The driving force for the itinerant ferromagnetism at the surface is the aforementioned exchange interaction. Such a splitting may also be induced into states of functional surface layers deposited onto the surface of EuRh2Si2 or similarly ordered magnetic materials with metallic or semiconducting properties.

Nitrogen-Doped Graphene: Efficient Growth, Structure, and Electronic Properties

A novel strategy for efficient growth of nitrogen-doped graphene (N-graphene) on a large scale from s-triazine molecules is presented. The growth process has been unveiled in situ using time-dependent photoemission. It has been established that a postannealing of N-graphene after gold intercalation causes a conversion of the N environment from pyridinic to graphitic, allowing to obtain more than 80% of all embedded nitrogen in graphitic form, which is essential for the electron doping in graphene. A band gap, a doping level of 300 meV, and a charge-carrier concentration of ∼8×10(12) electrons per cm2, induced by 0.4 atom % of graphitic nitrogen, have been detected by angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, which offers great promise for implementation of this system in next generation electronic devices.

Tunable Band Gap in Hydrogenated Quasi-Free-Standing Graphene

We show by angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy that a tunable gap in quasi-free-standing monolayer graphene on Au can be induced by hydrogenation. The size of the gap can be controlled via hydrogen loading and reaches approximately 1.0 eV for a hydrogen coverage of 8%. The local rehybridization from sp(2) to sp(3) in the chemical bonding is observed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray absorption and allows for a determination of the amount of chemisorbed hydrogen. The hydrogen induced gap formation is completely reversible by annealing without damaging the graphene. Calculations of the hydrogen loading dependent core level binding energies and the spectral function of graphene are in excellent agreement with photoemission experiments. Hydrogenation of graphene gives access to tunable electronic and optical properties and thereby provides a model system to study hydrogen storage in carbon materials.

Dynamics of graphene growth on a metal surface: a time-dependent photoemission study

Applying time-dependent photoemission we unravel the graphene growth process on a metallic surface by chemical vapor deposition (CVD). Graphene CVD growth is in stark contrast to the standard growth process of two-dimensional films because it is self-limiting and stops as soon as a monolayer of graphene has been synthesized. Most importantly, a novel phase of metastable graphene was discovered that is characterized by permanent and simultaneous construction and deconstruction. The high quality and large area graphene flakes are characterized by angle-resolved photoemission, proving that they are indeed monolayer and cover the whole 1×1 cm Ni(111) substrate. These findings are of high relevance to the intensive search for reliable synthesis methods for large graphene flakes of controlled layer number.

Graphene Synthesis on Cubic SiC/Si Wafers. Perspectives for Mass Production of Graphene-Based Electronic Devices

The outstanding properties of graphene, a single graphite layer, render it a top candidate for substituting silicon in future electronic devices. The so far exploited synthesis approaches, however, require conditions typically achieved in specialized laboratories and result in graphene sheets whose electronic properties are often altered by interactions with substrate materials. The development of graphene-based technologies requires an economical fabrication method compatible with mass production. Here we demonstrate for the fist time the feasibility of graphene synthesis on commercially available cubic SiC/Si substrates of >300 mm in diameter, which result in graphene flakes electronically decoupled from the substrate. After optimization of the preparation procedure, the proposed synthesis method can represent a further big step toward graphene-based electronic technologies.

Three-dimensional chitin-based scaffolds from Verongida sponges (Demospongiae: Porifera). Part I. Isolation and identification of chitin.

Marine invertebrate organisms including sponges (Porifera) not only provide an abundant source of biologically active secondary metabolites but also inspire investigations to develop biomimetic composites, scaffolds and templates for practical use in materials science, biomedicine and tissue engineering. Here, we presented a detailed study of the structural and physico-chemical properties of three-dimensional skeletal scaffolds of the marine sponges Aiolochroia crassa, Aplysina aerophoba, A. cauliformis, A. cavernicola, and A. fulva (Verongida: Demospongiae). We show that these fibrous scaffolds have a multilayered design and are made of chitin. (13)C solid-state NMR spectroscopy, NEXAFS, and IR spectroscopy as well as chitinase digestion and test were applied in order to unequivocally prove the existence of alpha-chitin in all investigated species.

Three-dimensional chitin-based scaffolds from Verongida sponges (Demospongiae: Porifera). Part II: Biomimetic potential and applications

In order to evaluate the biomedical potential of three-dimensional chitinous scaffolds of poriferan origin, chondrocyte culturing experiments were performed. It was shown for the first time that freshly isolated chondrocytes attached well to the chitin scaffold and synthesized an extracellular matrix similar to that found in other cartilage tissue engineering constructs. Chitin scaffolds also supported deposition of a proteoglycan-rich extracellular matrix of chondrocytes seeded bioconstructs in an in vivo environment. We suggest that chitin sponge scaffolds, apart from the demonstrated biomedical applications, are highly optimized structures for use as filtering systems, templates for biomineralization as well as metallization in order to produce catalysts.

Commissioning results and performance of the high-resolution Russian-German Beamline at BESSY II

Excellent results were obtained during commissioning of the Russian–German Beamline at bending-magnet D16-1A of the electron-storage ring BESSY II. The beamline is based on a Petersen-type plane-grating monochromator covering the XUV and soft X-ray photon-energy range. Photoionization spectra taken from the 2,–13 resonance of doubly excited He reveal a resolving power of E=DED100,000 at hn=64.12 eV. To our knowledge, this represents the best energy resolution achieved up to now on a bending-magnet beamline in the grazing-incidence photon-energy range. We present results on photon flux and dimensions of the light spot at the sample position, and show representative photoionization spectra of several gases studied in the course of the characterization of the beamline at various photon energies. The high stability of the beamline is demonstrated by the first observation of the weak 4,� 24 resonance of doubly excited He, which had not been observed before. r 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Discovery of 505-million-year old chitin in the basal demosponge Vauxia gracilenta

Sponges are probably the earliest branching animals, and their fossil record dates back to the Precambrian. Identifying their skeletal structure and composition is thus a crucial step in improving our understanding of the early evolution of metazoans. Here, we present the discovery of 505–million-year-old chitin, found in exceptionally well preserved Vauxia gracilenta sponges from the Middle Cambrian Burgess Shale. Our new findings indicate that, given the right fossilization conditions, chitin is stable for much longer than previously suspected. The preservation of chitin in these fossils opens new avenues for research into other ancient fossil groups.

Evidence for a New Two-Dimensional C4H-Type Polymer Based on Hydrogenated Graphene

www.MaterialsViews.com C O M M U N IC A IO N Danny Haberer , * Cristina E. Giusca , Ying Wang , Hermann Sachdev , * Alexander V. Fedorov , Mani Farjam , S. Akbar Jafari , Denis V. Vyalikh , Dmitry Usachov , Xianjie Liu , Uwe Treske , Mandy Grobosch , Oleg Vilkov , Vera K. Adamchuk , Stephan Irle , * S. Ravi P. Silva , Martin Knupfer , Bernd Büchner , and Alexander Grüneis * Evidence for a New Two-Dimensional C 4 H-Type Polymer Based on Hydrogenated Graphene