Hf0.5Zr0.5O2‐based materials have garnered significant attention for applications requiring ferroelectricity at the nanoscale. This behavior arises due to the stabilization of metastable phases at room temperature. However, the synthesis of phase pure Hf0.5Zr0.5O2remains a challenging problem in both thin films and nanoparticles. Herein, the crystallization of Hf0.5Zr0.5O2nanoparticles from an as‐synthesized amorphous phase is studied. By tailoring the aggregate nature of the intermediate amorphous nanoparticles via different drying processes, the crystallization pathway can be altered, resulting in significant differences in crystal structure, crystallite size, and crystallite morphology after calcination. X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and Rietveld refinement show the dominant crystallographic phase changes from a monoclinic structure to a cubic structure for samples with decreased aggregation. Samples prepared via freeze drying exhibit the most aggregation control and correspond with the observation of single‐crystalline particle aggregates and branching structures attributed to a crystallization by particle attachment mechanism. Herein, differing crystallization pathways lead to unique crystal morphologies that stabilize the traditionally high‐temperature phases of Hf0.5Zr0.5O2‐based materials that are necessary for functional applications.
Electronic band structure and magnetism of CoFeV 0.5 Mn 0.5 Si
Half-metallic Heusler alloys have attracted significant attention due to their potential application in spin-transport-based devices. We have synthesized one such alloy, CoFeV 0.5 Mn 0.5 Si, using arc melting and high-vacuum annealing at 600 °C for 24 hours. First principles calculation indicates that CoFeV 0.5 Mn 0.5 Si shows a nearly half-metallic band structure with a degree of spin polarization of about 93%. In addition, this value can be enhanced by the application of tensile strain. The room temperature x-ray diffraction patterns are indexed with the cubic crystal structure without secondary phases. The annealed sample shows ferromagnetic order with the Curie temperature well above room temperature ( T c = 657 K) and a saturation magnetization of about 92 emu/g. Our results indicate that CoFeV 0.5 Mn 0.5 Si has a potential for room temperature spin-transport-based devices.
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- Award ID(s):
- 2003828
- NSF-PAR ID:
- 10325294
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- AIP Advances
- Volume:
- 12
- Issue:
- 3
- ISSN:
- 2158-3226
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 035011
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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