Direct observation of ordered-disordered structural transition of MoS_(2)-confined ionic liquids

Ionic liquids(ILs)are an emerging class of media of fundamental importance for chemical engineering,especially due to their interaction with solid surfaces.Here,we explore the growth phenomenon of surface-confined ILs and reveal a peculiar structural transition behavior from order to disorder above a threshold thickness.This behavior can be explained by the variation of interfacial forces with increasing distance from the solid surface.Direct structural observation of different ILs highlights the influence of the ionic structure on the growth process.Notably,the length of the alkyl chain in the cation is found to be a determining factor for the ordering trend.Also,the thermal stability of surface-confined ILs is investigated in depth by controlling annealing treatments.It is found that the ordered monolayer ILs exhibit high robustness against high temperatures.Our findings provide new perspectives on the properties of surface-confined ILs and open up potential avenues for manipulating the structures of nanometer-thick IL films for various applications.

Pressure-induced magnetic phase and structural transition in SmSb_(2)

Motivated by the recent discovery of unconventional superconductivity around a magnetic quantum critical point in pressurized CeSb_(2),here we present a high-pressure study of an isostructural antiferromagnetic(AFM) SmSb_(2) through electrical transport and synchrotron x-ray diffraction measurements.At P_(C)~2.5 GPa,we found a pressure-induced magnetic phase transition accompanied by a Cmca→P4/nmm structural phase transition.In the pristine AFM phase below P_(C),the AFM transition temperature of SmSb_(2) is insensitive to pressure;in the emergent magnetic phase above P_(C),however,the magnetic critical temperature increases rapidly with increasing pressure.In addition,at ambient pressure,the magnetoresistivity(MR) of SmSb_(2) increases suddenly upon cooling below the AFM transition temperature and presents linear nonsaturating behavior under high field at 2 K.With increasing pressure above P_(C),the MR behavior remains similar to that observed at ambient pressure,both in terms of temperature-and field-dependent MR.This leads us to argue an AFM-like state for SmSb_(2) above P_(C).Within the investigated pressure of up to 45.3 GPa and the temperature of down to 1.8 K,we found no signature of superconductivity in SmSb_(2).

Structural Transition and Magnetic Property of Bi1-xYbxFeO3

Bi1-xYbxFeO3（0〈x〈0.2） powders have been synthesized using a sol-gel method. The X- ray diffraction data show a structural transition from the rhombohedral R3c phase to the orthorhombic Pnma phase between x=0.1 and 0.125, which should induce a ferroelectric- paraelectric transformation. The phase transition is also proven by the Raman spectroscopy. A moderate signal on magnetization appears to illustrate the enhancement of magnetization at the transformation boundary, which is suggested to be the destruction of the spin cycloid structure at low concentration. The appearance of antiferromagnetic ordering is proposed to account for the afterward reduction of the magnetization at high concentration.

Charge Density Wave States and Structural Transition in Layered Chalcogenide TaSe_(2-x)Te_x

The structural features and three-dimensional nature of the charge density wave （CDW） state of the layered chalcogenide 1T-TaSe2-xTex （0≤x≤2.0） are characterized by Cs-corrected transmission electron microscopy measurements. Notable changes of both average structure and the CDW state arising from Te substitution for Se are clearly demonstrated in samples with x〉0.3. The commensurate CDW state characterized by the known star-of-David clustering in the 1T-TaSe2 crystal becomes visibly unstable with Te substitution and vanishes when x=0.3. The 1T-TaSe2-xTex （0.3≤x≤1.3） samples generally adopt a remarkable incommensurate CDW state with monoclinic distortion, which could be fundamentally in correlation with the strong qq-dependent electron-phonon coupling-induced period-lattice-distortion as identified in TaTe22. Systematic analysis demonstrates that the occurrence of superconductivity is related to the suppression of the commensurate CDW phase and the presence of discommensuration is an evident structural feature observed in the superconducting samples.

New Superconductivity Dome in LaFeAsO1-xFx Accompanied by Structural Transition

High-temperature superconductivity is often found in the vicinity of antiferromagnetism. This is also true in LaFeAsOl-xFx （x ≤ 0.2,） and many other iron-based superconductors, which leads to proposals that supercon- ductivity is mediated by fluctuations associated with the nearby magnetism. Here we report the discovery of a new superconductivity dome without low-energy magnetic fluctuations in LaFeAsO1-xFx with 0.25 ≤ x ≤ 0.75, where the maximal critical temperature Tc at Xopt =0.5-0.55 is even higher than that at x ≤0.2. By nuclear magnetic resonance and transmission electron microscopy, we show that a C4 rotation symmetry-breaking struc- tural transition takes place for x 〉 0.5 above To. Our results point to a new paradigm of high temperature superconductivity.

Pressure-induced structural transition and low-temperature recovery of sodium pentazolate

Pentazolate compounds have attracted extensive attention as high energy density materials.The synthesis and recovery of pentazolate compounds is of great importance for their potential applications.Here,we report the synthesis of Pmn2_(1)-NaN_(5)and Pm-Na_(2)N_(5)through compressing and laser heating pure NaN_(3)at~60 GPa.Upon decompression,the pressureinduced structural transition from Pmn2_(1)-NaN_(5)into Cm-NaN_(5)is observed in the pressure range of 14-23 GPa for the first time.The cyclo-N_(5)^(-)can be traced down to 4.7 GPa at room temperature and recovered to ambient pressure under low temperature condition(up to 160 K).The Pm-Na_(2)N_(5)is suggested to decompose into the P4/mmm-NaN_(2)at 23 GPa,and be stable at ambient conditions.This work provides insight into the high-pressure behaviors of pentazolate compounds and an alternative way to stabilize energetic polynitrogen compounds.

Field-Induced Structural Transition in the Bond Frustrated Spinel ZnCr2Se4

The effect of an external magnetic field on the structural and magnetic properties of bond frustrated ZnCr2 Se4 at low temperatures is investigated using magnetization, dielectric constants and thermal conductivity experiments. With an increase in the magnetic field H, the antiferromagnetic transition temperature TN is observed to shift progressively toward lower temperatures. The corresponding high temperature cubic （Fd3m） to low temperature tetragonal （I41amd） structural transition is tuned simultaneously due to the inherent strong spin-lattice coupling. In the antiferromagnetic phase, an anomaly at Hc2 defined as a steep downward peak in the derivative of the M-H curve is dearly drawn. It is found that TN versus H and Hc2 versus T exhibit a consistent tendency, indicative of a field-induced tetragonal （I41amd） to cubic （Fd3m） structural transition. The transition is further substantiated by the field-dependent dielectric constant and thermal conductivity measurements. We modify the T-H phase diagram, highlighting the coexistence of the paramagnetic state and ferromagnetic clusters between 100K and TN.

Metastable Face-Centered Cubic Structure and Structural Transition of Sn on 2H-NbSe2(0001)

Surface structures and properties of Sn islands grown on superconducting substrate 2H-NbSe2（0001）are studied using low temperature scanning tunneling microscopy or spectroscopy.The pure face-centered cubic（fee）structure of Sn surface is obtained.Superconductivity is also detected on the fcc-Sn（111）surface,and the size of superconducting gap on the Sn surface is nearly the same as that on the superconducting substrate.Furthermore,phase transition occurs from fcc-Sn（111）toβ-Sn（001）by keeping the sample at room temperature for a certain time.Due to the strain relaxation on theβ-Sn islands,both the in-plane unit cell and out-of-plane structures distort,and the height of surface atoms varies periodically to form a universal ripple structure.

Peierls Structural Transition in Q1D Organic Crystals of TTT<SUB>2</SUB>I<SUB>3</SUB>for Different Values of Carrier Concentration

The Peierls structural transition in the TTT2I3 (tetrathiotetracene-iodide) crystal, for different values of carrier concentration is studied in 3D approximation. A crystal physical model is applied that considers two of the most important hole-phonon interactions. The first interaction describes the deformation potential and the second one is of polaron type. In the presented physical model, the interaction of carriers with the structural defects is taken into account. This is crucial for the explanation of the transition. The renormalized phonon spectrum is calculated in the random phase approximation for different temperatures applying the method of Green functions. The renormalized phonon frequencies for different temperatures are presented in two cases. In the first case the interaction between TTT chains is neglected. In the second one, this interaction is taken into account. Computer simulations for the 3D physical model of the TTT2I3 crystal are performed for different values of dimensionless Fermi momentum kF, that is determined by variation of carrier concentration. It is shown that the transition is of Peierls type and strongly depends on iodine concentration. Finally, the Peierls critical temperature was determined.

Pressure-induced structural transitions and metallization in ZrSe_(2)

High-pressure studies of two-dimensional materials have revealed numerous novel properties and physical mechanisms behind them.As a typical material of transition metal dichalcogenides(TMDs),ZrSe_(2)exhibits high carrier mobility,rich electronic states regulated by doping,and high potential in applications at ambient pressure.However,the properties of ZrSe_(2)under pressure are still not clear,especially for the structural and electrical properties.Here,we report the investigation of ZrSe_(2)under pressure up to 66.5 GPa by in-situ x-ray diffraction,Raman,electrical transport measurements,and first-principles calculations.Two structural phase transitions occur in ZrSe_(2)at 8.3 GPa and 31.5 GPa,from P-3m1 symmetry to P2_(1)/m symmetry,and finally transformed into a non-layer I4/mmm symmetry structure.Pressure-induced metallic transition is observed at around 19.4 GPa in phaseⅡwhich aligns well with the results of the calculation.Our work will help to improve the understanding of the evolution of the structure and electrical transport properties of two-dimensional materials.

Structural transition,electric transport,and electronic structures in the compressed trilayer nickelate La_(4)Ni_(3)O_(10)

Atomic structure and electronic band structure are fundamental properties for understanding the mechanism of superconductivity. Motivated by the discovery of pressure-induced high-temperature superconductivity at 80 K in the bilayer Ruddlesden-Popper nickelate La_(3)Ni_(2)O_(7), the atomic structure and electronic band structure of the trilayer nickelate La_(4)Ni_(3)O_(10) under pressure up to 44.3 GPa are investigated. A structural transition from the monoclinic P2_(1)/a space group to the tetragonal I4/mmm around 12.6-13.4 GPa is identified, accompanied by a drop of resistance below 7 K. Density functional theory calculations suggest that the bonding state of Ni 3d_(z^(2)) orbital rises and crosses the Fermi level at high pressures, which may give rise to possible superconductivity observed in resistance under pressure in La_(4)Ni_(3)O_(10). The trilayer nickelate La_(4)Ni_(3)O_(10) shows some similarities with the bilayer La_(3)Ni_(2)O_(7) and has unique properties, providing a new platform to investigate the underlying mechanism of superconductivity in nickelates.

Structural Transition Dynamics in Carbon Electrode-Based Single-Molecule Junctions

Monitoring the structural transitions of individual molecules is of great significance because it helps to in depth explore the properties of molecules and provide diverse possibilities for molecular applications in the fields of chemistry,biology and material science.This review summarizes the strategy of using single-molecule electrical approaches to study molecular structure transitions at the single-molecule level in real time.Specifically,through the use of stable single-molecule devices for real-time electrical monitoring,the process of molecular structure transitions of a single molecule can be investigated,which helps to explore the nature of molecules in chemical and biological systems.In particular,the detection methods have been extended to the investigation of biological macromolecules for monitoring the conformational changes of nucleotide chains in different systems,such as double helix DNA,aptamer and DNA enzyme.In the end,we discuss the future challenges of probing structural transitions of single molecules,and provide prospects for further breakthroughs in this field.

STRAIN INDUCED STRUCTURAL TRANSITION OF INTERFACES AND TWINS IN A HOT－DEFORMED DUAL－PHASE TIAL ALLOY

The structure characteristics of a2/γinterfaces and the features of deformation twins in a quasi-isothermal forged Ti-45Al-10Nb alloy were studied by highresolution transmission electron microscopy. Three types of strain induced a2/γinterfaces and two types of strain induced twin boundaries were identified The most,important features are high density of ledges and the existence of I/3[111] Frank partial dislocation. Mechanisms for the formation these interfaces were proposed Two types of deformation twins were observed These deformation twins always start from the ledges it seems that ledges at interfaces are important features of interfacial structure for the mechanical behavior of alloys.

Microstructure and structural phase transitions in iron-based superconductors

Crystal structures and microstructural features, such as structural phase transitions, defect structures, and chemical and structural inhomogeneities, are known to have profound effects on the physical properties of superconducting materials. Recently, many studies on the structural properties of Fe-based high-Tc superconductors have been published. This review article will mainly focus on the typical microstructural features in samples that have been well characterized by physical measurements. （i） Certain common structural features are discussed, in particular, the crystal structural features for different superconducting families, the local structural distortions in the Fe2Pn2 （Pn = P, As, Sb） or FeeCh2 （Ch = S, Se, Te） blocks, and the structural transformations in the 122 system. （ii） In FeTe（Se） （11 family）, the superconductivity, chemical and structural inhomogeneities are investigated and discussed in correlation with superconductivity. （iii） In the Ko.sFe1.6＋xSe2 system, we focus on the typical compounds with emphasis on the Fe-vacancy order and phase separations. The microstructural features in other superconducting materials are also briefly discussed.

Thickness-dependent structural stability and transition in molybdenum disulfide under hydrostatic pressure

Understanding the physical mechanism of structural stability and transition in various polytypes of layered transition metal dichalcogenides under the external stimulus is of crucial importance for their new applications.Here,we investigate the thickness-dependent structural properties of MoS2 under the condition of hydrostatic pressure in terms of bond relaxation and thermodynamics considerations.For both types of MoS2 structures,we find that the transition and metallization are significantly modulated by hydrostatic pressure and the number of layers.We establish a pressure-size phase diagram to address the transition mechanism.Our study not only provides insights into the thickness-dependent structural properties of MoS2,but also shows a theoretical guidance for the design and fabrication of MoS2-based devices.

A STUDY ON THE STRUCTURAL TRANSITION OF A SINGLE POLYMER CHAIN BY PARALLEL TEMPERING MOLECULAR DYNAMICS SIMULATION

The structural transition of a single polymer chain with chain length of 100,200 and 300 beads was investigated by parallel tempering MD simulation.Our simulation results can capture the structural change from random coil to orientationally ordered structure with decreasing temperature.The clear transition was observed on the curves of radius of gyration and global orientational order parameter P as the function of temperature,which demonstrated structural formation of a single polymer chain.The linear relationships between three components of square radius of gyration R_（gx）~2,R_（gx）~2,R_（gz）~2 and global orientational order P can be obtained under the structurally transformational process.The slope of the linear relationship between x（or y-axis） component R_（gx）~2（or R_（gy）~2） and P is negative,while that of RL as the function of P is positive.The absolute value of slope is proportional to the chain length.Once the single polymer chain takes the random coil or ordered configuration,the linear relationship is invalid.The conformational change was also analyzed on microscopic scale.The polymer chain can be treated as the construction of rigid stems connecting by flexible loops.The deviation from exponentially decreased behavior of stem length distribution becomes prominent,indicating a stiffening of the chain arises leading to more and more segments ending up in the trans state with decreasing temperature.The stem length N_（tr） is about 21 bonds indicating the polymer chain is ordered with the specific fold length.So,the simulation results,which show the prototype of a liquid-crystalline polymer chain,are helpful to understand the crystallization process of crystalline polymers.

THERMAL STRUCTURAL DISORDER AND MELTING TRANSITION IN HIGH-ANGLE GRAIN-BOUNDARY: A MOLECULAR-DYNAMICS STUDY

A structural transition in the fcc ∑=5 (120)/[001] high-angle tilt grain-boundary(GB)is investigated by molecular-dynamics simulation. The calculations have been performed at various temperutures and the thermodynamic melting point Tm of the model system is determined by using a many-body potential fitted to copper. A thermal disorder transition in the GB region occurs well below the melting point. Our results indicate that such a transition is a continuous process and there is no evidence of premelting, which is entirely in accord with experiment results and theoretical prediction.Moreover we also observed that melting initiated at the interface and then propagated into the bulk quickly at or above Tm.

First principles study of structural, electronic and mechanical properties of transition metal hydrides(TMH, TM=Mo,Tc, Ru)

The structural, electronic and mechanical properties of transition metal hydrides （TMH, TM=Mo, Tc, Ru） are investigated by means of first principles calculation based on density fimctional theory with generalized gradient approximation. Among the five crystallographic structures that have been investigated, the cubic phase is found to be more stable than the hexagonal ones. A structural phase transition from ZB to WC in Moll, NaC1 to NiAs in TcH and NaCI to ZB to NiAs in RuH is also predicted under high pressure. The calculated elastic constants indicate that all the three hydrides are mechanically stable at ambient pressure.

Structural and magnetic transition in stainless steel Fe-21Cr-6Ni-9Mn up to 250 GPa

Stainless steel Fe-21Cr-6Ni-9Mn （SS 21-6-9）, with ~21% Cr, ,~6% Ni, and ~ 9% Mn in weight percentage, has wide applications in extensive fields. In the present study, SS 21-6-9 is compressed up to 250 GPa, and its crystal structures and compressive behaviors are investigated simultaneously using the synchrotron angle-dispersive x-ray diffraction technique. The SS 21-6-9 undergoes a structural phase transition from fcc to hcp structure at ~ 12.8 GPa with neglectable volume collapse within the determination error under the quasi-hydrostatic environment. The hcp structure remains stable up to the highest pressure of 250 GPa in the present experiments. The antiferromagnetic-to-nonmagnetic state transition of hcp SS 21-6-9 with the changes of inconspicuous density and structure, is discovered at ~50 GPa, and revealed by the significant change in c/a ratio. The hcp SS-21-6-9 is compressive anisotropic： it is more compressive in the c-axis direction than in the a-axis direction. Both the equations of states （EOSs） of fcc and hcp SS 21-6-9, which are in accordance with those of fcc and hcp pure irons respectively, are also presented. Furthermore, the c/a ratio of hcp SS 21-6-9 at infinite compression, R∞, is consistent with the values of pure iron and Fe-10Ni alloy.

Structural phase transition and transport properties in topological material candidate NaZn_(4)As_(3)

We report a comprehensive study on a layered-structure compound of NaZn_(4)As_(3),which has been predicted to be an ideal topological semimetal(TSM) candidate.It is found that NaZn_(4)As_(3) undergoes a structural transformation from high temperature rhombohedral to a low temperature monoclinic phase.The electric resistivity exhibits a metal-to-insulatorlike transition at around 100 K,and then develops a plateau at low temperature,which might be related to the protected topologically conducting surface states.Our first-principles calculation confirms further that NaZn_(4)As_(3) is a topological insulator(TI) for both different phases rather than a previously proposed TSM.The Hall resistivity reveals that the hole carriers dominate the transport properties for the whole temperature range investigated.Furthermore,an obvious kink possibly associated to the structure transition has been detected in thermopower around ~ 170 K.The large thermopower and moderate κ indicate that NaZn_(4)As_(3) and/or its derivatives can provide a good platform for optimizing and studying the thermoelectric performance.