Electric Transport and Magnetic Properties in Nanomaterials and Thin Films

A special issue of Nanomaterials (ISSN 2079-4991). This special issue belongs to the section "Nanoelectronics, Nanosensors and Devices".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 May 2022) | Viewed by 13023

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Guest Editor
Dipartimento di Fisica "E.R. Caianiello", Università di Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II, n.132, 84084 Fisciano, SA, Italy
Interests: physics of Josephson junctions; semiconducting cryogenic detectors; superconducting active and quantum devices; transport properties and low-frequency noise in materials and devices; application of network and complexity theories to management and public health
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Guest Editor
Dipartimento di Fisica "E.R. Caianiello", Università di Salerno, Salerno, Italy
Interests: The research activity of Carlo Barone was focused mainly on the experimental study of low-temperature electric transport properties in superconductivity and in innovative materials and devices. Over time, a special attention has been given to the analysis of intrinsic electric fluctuations in high critical temperature superconductors, in manganites, in polymer/carbon nanotubes composites, and in photovoltaic devices (such as: silicon, organic, and perovskite solar cells). Beyond the experimental activity, theoretical models of transport and fluctuation mechanisms at work in the materials and devices studied have been developed, in order to obtain more detailed information on the kinetic and dynamic processes of the charge carriers.

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Recently, several nanomaterials and thin films have attracted great attention due to their electric transport and magnetic properties, such as the so-called magnetoresistance effect and the interplay between spin, orbital, charge, and structural degrees of freedom. All these phenomena have been the subject of a great deal of research, in view of possible applications in spin electronics and magnetism.

Another relevant and emerging field of research in recent years concerns sustainability. Within this area, renewable polymers realized in form of thin films and nanostructures have gained great popularity and the study of the electric transport properties is necessary to evaluate their integration into electronic circuitry.

Finally, quantum technologies are attracting a large attention in view of practical applications on quantum computation and quantum communication. In this respect, by exploiting quantum features of nanostructures and nano-engineered materials, novel quantum devices can be designed.

In view of these motivations, a Special Issue of Nanomaterials will be devoted to collect articles (full papers, communications, and reviews) dealing with electric transport (DC, AC, and noise) and magnetic properties in nanomaterials and thin films. Accepted topics include, but are not limited, to:

-) nanomaterials for magnetic applications;

-) thin films for nanotechnology;

-) nanomaterials for green electronics;

-) nanomaterials and thin films for quantum technology;

-)  charge carrier fluctuations (electric noise spectroscopy) in nanomaterials and thin films.

Dr. Sergio Pagano
Dr. Carlo Barone
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • nanomaterials for magnetic applications
  • thin films for nanotechnology
  • nanomaterials for green electronics
  • nanomaterials and thin films for quantum technology
  • electric noise spectroscopy

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Editorial

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2 pages, 186 KiB  
Editorial
Editorial for Special Issue “Electric Transport and Magnetic Properties in Nanomaterials and Thin Films”
by Carlo Barone and Sergio Pagano
Nanomaterials 2022, 12(24), 4382; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12244382 - 9 Dec 2022
Viewed by 623
Abstract
Several nanomaterials and thin films have recently attracted much attention due to their peculiar electric transport and magnetic properties, such as the so-called magnetoresistance effect and the interplay between spin, orbital, charge, and structural degrees of freedom [...] Full article

Research

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10 pages, 2623 KiB  
Article
Multiferroic and Magnetodielectric Effects in Multiferroic Pr2FeAlO6 Double Perovskite
by Sheng Liu, Feng Xiang, Yulan Cheng, Yajun Luo and Jing Sun
Nanomaterials 2022, 12(17), 3011; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12173011 - 30 Aug 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1459
Abstract
Single-phase multiferroics that allow the coexistence of ferroelectric and magnetic ordering above room temperature are highly desirable, and offer a fundamental platform for novel functionality. In this work, a double perovskite multiferroic Pr2FeAlO6 ceramic is prepared using a sol-gel process [...] Read more.
Single-phase multiferroics that allow the coexistence of ferroelectric and magnetic ordering above room temperature are highly desirable, and offer a fundamental platform for novel functionality. In this work, a double perovskite multiferroic Pr2FeAlO6 ceramic is prepared using a sol-gel process followed by a quenching treatment. The well-crystallized and purified Pr2FeAlO6 in trigonal structure with space group R3c is confirmed. A combination of the ferroelectric (2Pr = 0.84 μC/cm2, Ec = 7.78 kV/cm at an applied electric field of 20 kV/cm) and magnetic (2Mr = 433 memu/g, Hc = 3.3 kOe at an applied magnetic field of 1.0 T) hysteresis loops reveals the room-temperature multiferroic properties. Further, the magnetoelectric effect is observed from the measurements of magnetically induced dielectric response and polarization. The present results suggest a new complex oxide candidate for room-temperature multiferroic applications. Full article
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22 pages, 4240 KiB  
Article
Low-Power and Eco-Friendly Temperature Sensor Based on Gelatin Nanocomposite
by Giovanni Landi, Veronica Granata, Roberto Germano, Sergio Pagano and Carlo Barone
Nanomaterials 2022, 12(13), 2227; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12132227 - 29 Jun 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1703
Abstract
An environmentally-friendly temperature sensor has been fabricated by using a low-cost water-processable nanocomposite material based on gelatin and graphene. The temperature dependence of the electrochemical properties has been investigated by using cyclic voltammetry, chronopotentiometry and impedance spectroscopy measurements. The simple symmetric device, composed [...] Read more.
An environmentally-friendly temperature sensor has been fabricated by using a low-cost water-processable nanocomposite material based on gelatin and graphene. The temperature dependence of the electrochemical properties has been investigated by using cyclic voltammetry, chronopotentiometry and impedance spectroscopy measurements. The simple symmetric device, composed of a sandwich structure between two metal foils and a printable graphene–gelatin blend, exhibits a dependence on the open-circuit voltage in a range between 260 and 310 K. Additionally, at subzero temperature, the device is able to detect the ice/frost formation. The thermally-induced phenomena occur at the electrode/gel interface with a bias current of a few tens of μA. The occurrence of dissociation reactions within the sensor causes limiting-current phenomena in the gelatin electrolyte. A detailed model describing the charge carrier accumulation, the faradaic charge transfer and diffusion processes within the device under the current-controlled has been proposed. In order to increase the cycle stability of the temperature sensor and reduce its voltage drift and offset of the output electrical signal, a driving circuit has been designed. The eco-friendly sensor shows a temperature sensitivity of about −19 mV/K, long-term stability, fast response and low-power consumption in the range of microwatts suitable for environmental monitoring for indoor applications. Full article
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10 pages, 1853 KiB  
Article
Normal-State Transport Properties of Infinite-Layer Sr1−xLaxCuO2 Electron-Doped Cuprates in Optimal- and Over-Doped Regimes
by Pasquale Orgiani, Alice Galdi, Darrell G. Schlom and Luigi Maritato
Nanomaterials 2022, 12(10), 1709; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12101709 - 17 May 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1578
Abstract
Transport properties of electron-doped cuprate Sr1xLaxCuO2 thin films have been investigated as a function of doping. In particular, optimal- and over-doped samples were obtained by tuning the Sr:La stoichiometric ratio. Optimal-doped samples show a non-Fermi liquid [...] Read more.
Transport properties of electron-doped cuprate Sr1xLaxCuO2 thin films have been investigated as a function of doping. In particular, optimal- and over-doped samples were obtained by tuning the Sr:La stoichiometric ratio. Optimal-doped samples show a non-Fermi liquid behavior characterized by linear dependence of the resistivity from room temperature down to intermediate temperature (about 150–170 K). However, by approaching temperatures in the superconducting transition, a Fermi-liquid behavior-characterized by a T2-scaling law-was observed. Once established, the transition from a linear-T to a quadratic-T2 behavior was successfully traced back in over-doped samples, even occurring at lower temperatures. In addition, the over-doped samples show a crossover to a linear-T to a logarithmic dependence at high temperatures compatible with anti-ferromagnetic spin fluctuations dominating the normal state properties of electron-doped cuprates. Full article
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8 pages, 1701 KiB  
Article
Comparing Thickness and Doping-Induced Effects on the Normal States of Infinite-Layer Electron-Doped Cuprates: Is There Anything to Learn?
by Chiara Sacco, Alice Galdi, Francesco Romeo, Nunzia Coppola, Pasquale Orgiani, Haofei I. Wei, Kyle M. Shen, Darrell G. Schlom and Luigi Maritato
Nanomaterials 2022, 12(7), 1092; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12071092 - 26 Mar 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1802
Abstract
We grew Sr1-xLaxCuO2 thin films and SrCuO2/Sr0.9La0.1CuO2/SrCuO2 trilayers by reflection high-energy diffraction-calibrated layer-by-layer molecular beam epitaxy, to study their electrical transport properties as a function of the doping and [...] Read more.
We grew Sr1-xLaxCuO2 thin films and SrCuO2/Sr0.9La0.1CuO2/SrCuO2 trilayers by reflection high-energy diffraction-calibrated layer-by-layer molecular beam epitaxy, to study their electrical transport properties as a function of the doping and thickness of the central Sr0.9La0.1CuO2 layer. For the trilayer samples, as already observed in underdoped SLCO films, the electrical resistivity versus temperature curves as a function of the central layer thickness show, for thicknesses thinner than 20 unit cells, sudden upturns in the low temperature range with the possibility for identifying, in the normal state, the T* and a T** temperatures, respectively, separating high-temperature linear behavior and low-temperature quadratic dependence. By plotting the T* and T** values as a function of TConset for both the thin films and the trilayers, the data fall on the same curves. This result suggests that, for the investigated trilayers, the superconducting critical temperature is the important parameter able to describe the normal state properties and that, in the limit of very thin central layers, such properties are mainly influenced by the modification of the energy band structure and not by interface-related disorder. Full article
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16 pages, 3588 KiB  
Article
A Comparative Evaluation of Sustainable Binders for Environmentally Friendly Carbon-Based Supercapacitors
by Giovanni Landi, Luca La Notte, Alessandro Lorenzo Palma, Andrea Sorrentino, Maria Grazia Maglione and Giovanni Puglisi
Nanomaterials 2022, 12(1), 46; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12010046 - 24 Dec 2021
Cited by 24 | Viewed by 3269
Abstract
Environmentally friendly energy storage devices have been fabricated by using functional materials obtained from completely renewable resources. Gelatin, chitosan, casein, guar gum and carboxymethyl cellulose have been investigated as sustainable and low-cost binders within the electrode active material of water-processable symmetric carbon-based supercapacitors. [...] Read more.
Environmentally friendly energy storage devices have been fabricated by using functional materials obtained from completely renewable resources. Gelatin, chitosan, casein, guar gum and carboxymethyl cellulose have been investigated as sustainable and low-cost binders within the electrode active material of water-processable symmetric carbon-based supercapacitors. Such binders are selected from natural-derived materials and industrial by-products to obtain economic and environmental benefits. The electrochemical properties of the devices based on the different binders are compared by using cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge/discharge curves and impedance spectroscopy. The fabricated supercapacitors exhibit series resistance lower than a few ohms and values of the specific capacitance ranged between 30 F/g and 80 F/g. The most performant device can deliver ca. 3.6 Wh/kg of energy at a high power density of 3925 W/kg. Gelatin, casein and carboxymethyl cellulose-based devices have shown device stability up to 1000 cycles. Detailed analysis on the charge storage mechanisms (e.g., involving faradaic and non-faradaic processes) at the electrode/electrolyte interface reveals a pseudocapacitance behavior within the supercapacitors. A clear correlation between the electrochemical performances (e.g., cycle stability, capacitance retention, series resistance value, coulombic efficiency) ageing phenomena and charge storage mechanisms within the porous carbon-based electrode have been discussed. Full article
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Review

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22 pages, 4723 KiB  
Review
Ferromagnetic Behavior and Magneto-Optical Properties of Semiconducting Co-Doped ZnO
by Antonio Di Trolio, Alberto M. Testa and Aldo Amore Bonapasta
Nanomaterials 2022, 12(9), 1525; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12091525 - 1 May 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1626
Abstract
ZnO is a well-known semiconducting material showing a wide bandgap and an n-type intrinsic behavior of high interest in applications such as transparent electronics, piezoelectricity, optoelectronics, and photovoltaics. This semiconductor becomes even more attractive when doped with a few atomic percent of [...] Read more.
ZnO is a well-known semiconducting material showing a wide bandgap and an n-type intrinsic behavior of high interest in applications such as transparent electronics, piezoelectricity, optoelectronics, and photovoltaics. This semiconductor becomes even more attractive when doped with a few atomic percent of a transition metal. Indeed, e.g., the introduction of substitutional Co atoms in ZnO (ZCO) induces the appearance of room temperature ferromagnetism (RT-FM) and magneto-optical effects, making this material one of the most important representatives of so-called dilute magnetic semiconductors (DMSs). In the present review, we discuss the magnetic and magneto-optical properties of Co-doped ZnO thin films by considering also the significant improvements in the properties induced by post-growth irradiation with atomic hydrogen. We also show how all of these properties can be accounted for by a theoretical model based on the formation of Co-VO (oxygen vacancy) complexes and the concurrent presence of shallow donor defects, thus giving a sound support to this model to explain the RT-FM in ZCO DMSs. Full article
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