[en] The strong coupling between the spin, orbital and lattice leads to abundant phenomena in oxide SC/FM superlattice films, such as a magnetic proximity effect, a giant magnetoresistance and a SC induced magnetic depletion in the FM layers. In this study, superlattice of [YBCO(10nm)/LSMO (10nm)]4 multilayer film were grown on SrTiO₃ (001) substrates by a UHV pulse laser deposition technique. To reveal the magnetic structure fluctuation at SC/FM interfaces, a polarized neutron reflectometry (PNR) measurements were carried out at 300 K (applied magnetic field 1.4mT & 1T) and at 8 K (applied magnetic field 1.4mT field cooled under 1T) in the Platypus beam line of ANSTO. The reflectivity intensities of each curve span over 5 orders of magnitude which reflect good interface quality with very low roughness. PNR data at 300 K where YBCO layers are in normal metal states shows presence of depletion layers at the SC/FM interfaces near the YBCO side. This depletion layers acts like YBCO in a normal metal state and is independent of the polarization of the incident Neutron beam. At low temperature, the depletion layer transfers to a magnetic layer with characteristics very similar both on the scattering length density and magnetization to LSMO layers. A thin interface layer near the YBCO/LSMO interface on the YBCO side shows destruction of superconductivity and induces a mall magnetic moment antiparallel to Mn moment FM layers. This phenomena can be explained on the basis of inverse proximity effect, where the suppression of superconductivity accompanying a Cu magnetic moment can be induced antiparallel to Mn moment as observed earlier by D. K. Satapathy et al.

[en] Highlights: • LiFePO₄ has been synthesized by a facile hydrothermal method using iron metal directly as an iron source. • Theoretically iron metal delivers 100% atom economy. • The LiFePO₄ electrode demonstrates good electrochemical performance. - Abstract: Hydrothermal LiFePO₄ has been successfully synthesized using iron powder as an iron source and as an in situ reducing agent. The 100% atom economy delivered by iron metal (Fe⁰) makes this process green and inexpensive. A plausible mechanism for the formation of hydrothermal LiFePO₄ powder is also proposed. The structure of the LiFePO₄ powder is well characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy techniques. The discharge capacity of the LiFePO₄ electrode is found to be 165 mAh g⁻¹ at 0.1 C-rate, and the cycle-life performance is comparable to the conventionally synthesized LiFePO₄.

[en] Highlights: • (Co + Al)-doped ZnO films were synthesized by RF magnetron sputtering in atmosphere Ar + H₂. • Zn/Co ratio in the films was found to be several times lower than in the target used. • Conditions for the formation of gaseous ZnH₂ during films deposition are considered. • Secondary phases related to Co and Al were not detected by XRD. • Films exhibit ferromagnetic almost hysteresis-free behavior at room temperature. (Co + Al)-doped ZnO films have been synthesized by the RF magnetron sputtering. Films of this composition have first been obtained in mixed atmosphere of Ar + H₂. High hydrogen concentration of 20–50% has been used together with high enough substrate temperature of 450 °C. The used technological conditions affected the morphology, chemical composition, optical, electric, and magnetic properties of the films to an even more than in the case of Co-doped ZnO films synthesized under the same conditions and studied earlier. The films exhibit ferromagnetic behavior at room temperature with much greater magnetization and magneto-optical activity compared to the Co-doped films. At the same time, the hydrogenated films show an increase in electric conductivity in comparison with samples synthesized in the atmosphere of Ar + O₂. The magnetic nature of the hydrogenated films has been associated with the defect-related mechanism.