Piezomagnetic switching and complex phase equilibria in uranium dioxide

Actinide materials exhibit strong spin–lattice coupling and electronic correlations, and are predicted to host new emerging ground states. One example is piezomagnetism and magneto-elastic memory effect in the antiferromagnetic Mott-Hubbard insulator uranium dioxide, though its microscopic nature is under debate. Here, we report X-ray diffraction studies of oriented uranium dioxide crystals under strong pulsed magnetic fields. In the antiferromagnetic state a [888] Bragg diffraction peak follows the bulk magnetostriction that expands under magnetic fields. Upon reversal of the field the expansion turns to contraction, before the [888] peak follows the switching effect and piezomagnetic ‘butterfly’ behaviour, characteristic of two structures connected by time reversal symmetry. An unexpected splitting of the [888] peak is observed, indicating the simultaneous presence of time-reversed domains of the 3-k structure and a complex magnetic-field-induced evolution of the microstructure. These findings open the door for a microscopic understanding of the piezomagnetism and magnetic coupling across strong magneto-elastic interactions.

Poly(styrene/α-tertbutoxy-ω-vinylbenzyl-polyglycidol) micro spheres for the preparation of novel photonic crystals

We report on the preparation of a novel photonic crystal assembled from poly(styrene/α-tertbutoxy-ω-vinylbenzyl-polyglycidol) microspheres. The latex particles were fully characterized in terms of size (271 nm, Dw/Dn=1.004), electrophoretic mobility (-3.79x10-8 m2V-1s-1) and surface chemical composition (evidence for a PGL-rich particle surface). They were then assembled into 3D colloidal crystal showing an optical stop band in the visible region. The λmax for the Bragg diffraction peak is 570 nm. As the particles under study are highly hydrophilic and biocompatible, this work opens up new opportunities for the design of photonic crystal-based biosensing devices.

Limitations of asymmetric parallel-beam geometry

Bragg diffraction peak profiles and intensities in asymmetric (Ω–2θ) diffraction using a mirror-based parallel-beam geometry were compared with symmetric parallel-beam (θ–2θ) and conventional Bragg–Brentano (θ–2θ) diffraction for a powdered quartz sample and the NIST standard reference material (SRM) 660a (LaB6, lanthanum hexaboride). A comparison of the intensities and line widths (full width at half-maximum, FWHM) of these techniques demonstrated that low incident angles (Ω < 5°) are preferable for the parallel-beam setup. For higher Ω values, if 2θ < 2Ω, mass absorption reduces the intensities significantly compared with the Bragg–Brentano setup. The diffraction peak shapes for the mirror geometry are more asymmetric and have larger FWHM values than corresponding peaks recorded with a Bragg–Brentano geometry. An asymmetric mirror-based parallel-beam geometry offers some advantages in respect of intensity when compared with symmetric geometries, and hence may be well suited to quantitative studies, such as those involving Rietveld analysis. A trial Rietveld refinement of a 50% quartz–50% corundum mixture was performed and produced adequate results.