Related papers: Crystal structure evolution in the van der Waals t…
X-ray diffraction studies on a Pb(Zn$_{1/3}$Nb$_{2/3}$)O$_3$ (PZN) single crystal sample show the presence of two different structures. An outer-layer exists in the outer most $\sim$ 10 to 50~$\mu$m of the crystal, and undergoes a…
Van der Waals magnetic materials are building blocks for novel kinds of spintronic devices and playgrounds for exploring collective magnetic phenomena down to the two-dimensional limit. Chromium-tellurium compounds are relevant in this…
$\alpha$-RuCl$_3$, a well-known candidate material for Kitaev quantum spin liquid, is prone to stacking disorder due to the weak van der Waals bonding between the honeycomb layers. After a decade of intensive experimental and theoretical…
Among the recently widely studied van der Waals layered magnets CrX3 (X=Cl, Br, I), CrCl3 monolayer (ML) is particularly puzzling as it is solely shown by experiments to have an in-plane magnetic easy axis and, furthermore, all of previous…
A chain of singly-charged particles, confined by a harmonic potential, exhibits a sudden transition to a zigzag configuration when the radial potential reaches a critical value, depending on the particle number. This structural change is a…
We report growth of high-quality single crystals of CeCl3 using a modified Bridgman Stockbarger method in an infrared image furnace. The grown crystals are characterized using single-crystal/powder X-ray diffraction, Laue X-ray diffraction,…
Transition-metal halides V$X_3$ ($X$ = Br and I) have emerged as promising candidates for two dimensional spintronic and quantum applications due to their layer-dependent magnetism and tunable electronic states. However, experimental…
At 300 K, Y$_{0.9}$Gd$_{0.1}$Fe$_{2}$H$_{x}$ hydrides crystallize sequentially with increasing H concentration in various structures related to a lowering of the cubic MgCu$_{2}$ type structure of the parent alloy: cubic C1, monoclinic M1,…
Cu2OSeO3 is known as a unique example of insulating multiferroic compounds with skyrmion spin texture, which is characterized by the chiral cubic crystal structure at ambient pressure. Recently, it has been reported that this compound shows…
We have synthesized single crystals of CeZnAl$_3$, which is a new member of the family of the Ce-based intermetallics Ce$TX_3$ ($T$ = transition metal, $X$= Si, Ge, Al), crystallizing in the non-centrosymmetric tetragonal BaNiSn$_3$-type…
Here, we provide a detailed study of the crystal structure and physical properties of the recently discovered vdW ferromagnet FePd$_2$Te$_2$. We find this compound has a relatively wide width of formation, and grow single crystals with…
In recent experiments on sodium chloride clusters structural transitions between nanocrystals with different cuboidal shapes were detected. Here we presents results for the thermodynamics and dynamics of one of these clusters, (NaCl)35Cl-.…
We grew high-quality single crystals of the 5f electron van der Waals compound UI$_3$ and investigated them by measurements of specific heat and magnetization as functions of temperature and magnetic field. UI$_3$ behaves as an…
We have recently predicted and subsequently verified experimentally by specific heat measurements that EuTiO3 undergoes a structural phase transition at elevated temperature TS = 282 K. The origin of the phase transition has been attributed…
We report an experimental discovery of CrSnS3, a new Van der Waals ferromagnetic (FM) with Curie temperature TC ~119K. The Curie temperature is in qualitative agreement of Chittari et. al. DFT prediction (TC =112.3K) for an Ising model with…
In recent experiments on sodium chloride clusters structural transitions between nanocrystals with different cuboidal shapes were detected. Here we determine reaction pathways between the low energy isomers of one of these clusters,…
Bifurcations in kinetic pathways decide the evolution of a system. An example is crystallization, in which the thermodynamically stable polymorph may not form due to kinetic hindrance. Here, we use confined self-assembly to investigate the…
Recently low-temperature structural transition has been reported for complex cubic compounds Cd6M (M=Ca, Yb, Y, rare earth) and it is believed that the transition is due to orientational ordering of an atomic shell in the icosahedral…
Two-dimensional van der Waals magnets show strong interconnection between their electrical, magnetic, and structural properties. Here we reveal the emergence of a luminescent transition upon crossing the N\'eel transition temperature of…
Changes in the spin configuration of atomically-thin, magnetic van-der-Waals multilayers can cause drastic modifications in their opto-electronic properties. Conversely, the opto-electronic response of these systems provides information…