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1. Observation of a Majorana zero mode in a topologically protected edge channel

   https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aax1444  

   Jäck, Berthold ; Xie, Yonglong ; Li, Jian ; Jeon, Sangjun ; Bernevig, B. Andrei ; Yazdani, Ali ( June 2019 , Science)

   Superconducting proximity pairing in helical edge modes, such as those of topological insulators, is predicted to provide a unique platform for realizing Majorana zero modes (MZMs). We used scanning tunneling microscopy measurements to probe the influence of proximity-induced superconductivity and magnetism on the helical hinge states of bismuth(111) films grown on a superconducting niobium substrate and decorated with magnetic iron clusters. Consistent with model calculations, our measurements revealed the emergence of a localized MZM at the interface between the superconducting helical edge channel and the iron clusters, with a strong magnetization component along the edge. Our experiments also resolve the MZM’s spin signature, which distinguishes it from trivial in-gap states that may accidentally occur at zero energy in a superconductor.
2. Superconductivity enhancement in phase-engineered molybdenum carbide/disulfide vertical heterostructures

   https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2003422117  

   Zhang, Fu ; Zheng, Wenkai ; Lu, Yanfu ; Pabbi, Lavish ; Fujisawa, Kazunori ; Elías, Ana Laura ; Binion, Anna R. ; Granzier-Nakajima, Tomotaroh ; Zhang, Tianyi ; Lei, Yu ; et al ( August 2020 , Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences)

   Stacking layers of atomically thin transition-metal carbides and two-dimensional (2D) semiconducting transition-metal dichalcogenides, could lead to nontrivial superconductivity and other unprecedented phenomena yet to be studied. In this work, superconducting α-phase thin molybdenum carbide flakes were first synthesized, and a subsequent sulfurization treatment induced the formation of vertical heterolayer systems consisting of different phases of molybdenum carbide—ranging from α to γ′ and γ phases—in conjunction with molybdenum sulfide layers. These transition-metal carbide/disulfide heterostructures exhibited critical superconducting temperatures as high as 6 K, higher than that of the starting single-phased α-Mo 2 C (4 K). We analyzed possible interface configurations to explain the observed moiré patterns resulting from the vertical heterostacks. Our density-functional theory (DFT) calculations indicate that epitaxial strain and moiré patterns lead to a higher interfacial density of states, which favors superconductivity. Such engineered heterostructures might allow the coupling of superconductivity to the topologically nontrivial surface states featured by transition-metal carbide phases composing these heterostructures potentially leading to unconventional superconductivity. Moreover, we envisage that our approach could also be generalized to other metal carbide and nitride systems that could exhibit high-temperature superconductivity.
3. Orthogonal deposition of Au on different facets of Ag cuboctahedra for the fabrication of nanoboxes with complementary surfaces

   https://doi.org/10.1039/c9nr08420g  

   Ahn, Jaewan ; Kim, Junki ; Qin, Dong ( January 2020 , Nanoscale)

   We report the fabrication of Ag–Au cuboctahedral nanoboxes enclosed by {100} and {111} facets, respectively, through the orthogonal deposition of Au on two different facets of Ag cuboctahedra. Specifically, we titrate aqueous HAuCl 4 into an aqueous mixture containing Ag cuboctahedra, ascorbic acid, and NaOH (under basic conditions), in the presence of poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) and cetyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC), respectively. In the case of PVP, the oxidation of Ag was initiated from the {111} facets of the cuboctahedra through the galvanic replacement reaction between Au( iii ) and Ag, accompanied by the deposition of Au onto the {100} facets. Because the dissolved Ag( i ) ions could react with NaOH to form Ag 2 O on the {111} facets and thus terminate the galvanic reaction, the Au( iii ) ions would be further reduced by the ascorbate monoanion (HAsc − ) to generate Au atoms for their continuing deposition on the {100} facets, converting Ag cuboctahedra to Ag@Au {100} cuboctahedra. Upon the etching of Ag from the core, we obtained Ag–Au cuboctahedral nanoboxes enclosed by {100} facets. In contrast, when CTAC was present, the oxidation of Ag through a galvanic reaction could continuously proceed on {100} facets as the dissolved Ag(more »i ) ions would react with the excessive amount of Cl − ions derived from CTAC to produce soluble AgCl 2 − ions rather than insoluble Ag 2 O. As a result, the dissolved Ag( i ) and Au( iii ) ions would be co-reduced by HAsc − for the generation of Ag and Au atoms, followed by their co-deposition onto {111} facets for the generation of Ag@Au {111} concave cuboctahedra. After the removal of Ag from the core by etching, we obtained Ag–Au {111} cuboctahedral nanoboxes enclosed by {111} facets. Both samples of cuboctahedral nanoboxes exhibited strong optical absorption in the infrared region. Interestingly, the cuboctahedral nanoboxes enclosed by {111} facets showed significantly enhanced catalytic activity toward the reduction of 4-nitrophenol by NaBH 4 relative to their counterparts encased by {100} facets.« less
4. Bromide Causes Facet-Selective Atomic Addition in Gold Nanorod Syntheses

   https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemmater.0c01494  

   Brown, Micah ; Wiley, Benjamin J. ( January 2020 , Chemistry of Materials)

   The aspect ratio-dependent properties of gold nanorods are used in a variety of applications, but the cause of anisotropic nanorod growth remains unclear. Measurements utilizing single-crystal electrodes were collected to determine what additive(s) in pentatwinned gold nanorod syntheses are responsible for facet-selective atomic addition. With cetyltrimethylammonium in the absence of bromide, the rate of atomic addition to Au(100) and Au(111) single crystals was the same, and isotropic nanoparticles were produced. The addition of increasing concentrations of bromide suppressed the rate of atomic addition to Au(100) relative to Au(111) and increased the aspect ratio of gold nanorods. Bromide was a more effective passivator of Au(100) in the absence of cetyltrimethylammonium, indicating cetyltrimethylammonium does not cause facet-selective atomic addition. Cetyltrimethylammonium surfactant is still necessary for gold nanorod growth because it reduces the rate of gold ion reduction and stabilizes suspended nanoparticles against aggregation.
5. An all-epitaxial nitride heterostructure with concurrent quantum Hall effect and superconductivity

   https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.abf1388  

   Dang, Phillip ; Khalsa, Guru ; Chang, Celesta S. ; Katzer, D. Scott ; Nepal, Neeraj ; Downey, Brian P. ; Wheeler, Virginia D. ; Suslov, Alexey ; Xie, Andy ; Beam, Edward ; et al ( February 2021 , Science Advances)

   Creating seamless heterostructures that exhibit the quantum Hall effect and superconductivity is highly desirable for future electronics based on topological quantum computing. However, the two topologically robust electronic phases are typically incompatible owing to conflicting magnetic field requirements. Combined advances in the epitaxial growth of a nitride superconductor with a high critical temperature and a subsequent nitride semiconductor heterostructure of metal polarity enable the observation of clean integer quantum Hall effect in the polarization-induced two-dimensional (2D) electron gas of the high-electron mobility transistor. Through individual magnetotransport measurements of the spatially separated GaN 2D electron gas and superconducting NbN layers, we find a small window of magnetic fields and temperatures in which the epitaxial layers retain their respective quantum Hall and superconducting properties. Its analysis indicates that in epitaxial nitride superconductor/semiconductor heterostructures, this window can be significantly expanded, creating an industrially viable platform for robust quantum devices that exploit topologically protected transport.