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Optical control of magnons in two-dimensional (2D) materials promises new functionalities for spintronics and magnonics in atomically thin devices. Here, we report control of magnon dynamics, using laser polarization, in a ferromagnetic van der Waals (vdW) material, Fe_3.6Co_1.4GeTe₂. The magnon amplitude, frequency, and lifetime are controlled and monitored by time-resolved pump-probe spectroscopy. We show substantial (over 25%) and continuous modulation of magnon dynamics as a function of incident laser polarization. Our results suggest that the modification of the effective demagnetization field and magnetic anisotropy by the pump laser pulses with different polarizations is due to anisotropic optical absorption. This implies that pump laser pulses modify the local spin environment, which enables the launch of magnons with tunable dynamics. Our first-principles calculations confirm the anisotropic optical absorption of different crystal orientations. Our findings suggest a new route for the development of opto-spintronic or opto-magnonic devices. 

CO2 electroreduction (CO2ER) by using renewable energy resources is a promising method to mitigate the CO2 level in the atmosphere as well as producing valuable chemicals. Local environment at the electrode-electrolyte interface plays a key role in CO2ER activity and selectivity along with its competing hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). In addition to the catalyst and reactor design, electrolyte has also a significant impact on the interface. Herein, electrolyte additives were used to modify the local environment around the Cu catalyst during CO2ER. To this purpose, 10mM of ionic additives with bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([NTF2]-) and dicyanamide ([DCA]-) as anions and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium ([BMIM]+), potassium (K+), or sodium (Na+) as cations have been added to an aqueous potassium bicarbonate solution (0.1 M KHCO3). COMSOL Multiphysics was also used to calculate the local pH and CO2 concentration at electrode-electrolyte interface in different electrolytes. Results showed that the local environment modifications by the electrolyte additives altered the activity and selectivity of Cu in CO2ER. It was found that the CO2ER activity at -0.92 V was enhanced when using anion with high CO2 affinity and high hydrophobicity such as [NTF2]–. Among [NTF2]–-based additives, [BMIM][NTF2] had a higher faradaic efficiency (FE) for formate (38.7%) compared to K[NTF2] (23.2%) and Na[NTF2] (18.5%) at -0.92 V likely due to the presence of imidazolium cation which can further stabilize the intermediates on the surface and enhance CO2ER. Electrolytes containing [DCA]–-based additives with high hydrophilicity and low CO2 affinity had a very high HER selectivity (>90% FEH2) and low CO2ER selectivity regardless of the cation nature. This observation is attributed to the presence of hydrophilic [BMIM][DCA] in the vicinity of the catalyst which impacts the microenvironment around the catalyst. We observed that [DCA]– anions have a high affinity to adsorb on Cu catalysts as soon as the catalyst is submerged in the electrolyte. Although FTIR showed that [DCA]– anions desorb from the surface at negative potentials, it is likely that [DCA]– anions still remain in the proximity of the electrode, next to the adsorbed cations, impacting the transport of H2O and CO2, and altering the product selectivity. COMSOL calculations showed that the local pH is directly proportional to the H2 evolution activity. Also, hydrophilic salts such as those with the [DCA]– anion had a more alkaline local pH which leads to a lower CO2 concentration in the vicinity of the catalyst. 

Abstract Van der Waals (vdW) material Fe 5 GeTe 2 , with its long-range ferromagnetic ordering near room temperature, has significant potential to become an enabling platform for implementing novel spintronic and quantum devices. To pave the way for applications, it is crucial to determine the magnetic properties when the thickness of Fe 5 GeTe 2 reaches the few-layers regime. However, this is highly challenging due to the need for a characterization technique that is local, highly sensitive, artifact-free, and operational with minimal fabrication. Prior studies have indicated that Curie temperature T C can reach up to close to room temperature for exfoliated Fe 5 GeTe 2 flakes, as measured via electrical transport; there is a need to validate these results with a measurement that reveals magnetism more directly. In this work, we investigate the magnetic properties of exfoliated thin flakes of vdW magnet Fe 5 GeTe 2 via quantum magnetic imaging technique based on nitrogen vacancy centers in diamond. Through imaging the stray fields, we confirm room-temperature magnetic order in Fe 5 GeTe 2 thin flakes with thickness down to 7 units cell. The stray field patterns and their response to magnetizing fields with different polarities is consistent with previously reported perpendicular easy-axis anisotropy. Furthermore, we perform imaging at different temperatures and determine the Curie temperature of the flakes at ≈300 K. These results provide the basis for realizing a room-temperature monolayer ferromagnet with Fe 5 GeTe 2 . This work also demonstrates that the imaging technique enables rapid screening of multiple flakes simultaneously as well as time-resolved imaging for monitoring time-dependent magnetic behaviors, thereby paving the way towards high throughput characterization of potential two-dimensional (2D) magnets near room temperature and providing critical insights into the evolution of domain behaviors in 2D magnets due to degradation. 

The fields of nonlinear optics, photovoltaics, and thermoelectrics have been strongly impacted by materials research, and quaternary chalcogenides are one general class of materials that has recently generated strong interest. An understanding of the thermal properties is paramount in these and other applications of interest. The thermal properties of BaCdSnSe₄, a quaternary chalcogenide that is of interest for applications in nonlinear optics, are reported. Specifically, the thermal conductivity over a large temperature range and heat capacity are evaluated in light of the structural features of this material. Low thermal conductivity results from the complex unit cell as well as local dynamic disorder from Cd in the CdSe₄tetrahedra in the crystal structure. The results and analyses reported herein are presented to enhance the fundamental understanding of the thermal properties of these materials, and can be related and applied to other quaternary chalcogenides that are of interest for energy‐related applications.