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In the present work we demonstrate that C-doped Zr$_{5}$Pt$_{3}$ is an electron-phonon superconductor (with critical temperature T$_\mathrm{C}$ = 3.7\,K) with a nonsymmorphic topological Dirac nodal-line semimetal state, which we report here for the first time. The superconducting properties of Zr$_{5}$Pt$_{3}$C$_{0.5}$ have been investigated by means of magnetization and muon spin rotation and relaxation ($\mu$SR) measurements. We find that at low temperatures the depolarization rate is almost constant and can be well described by a single-band $s-$wave model with a superconducting gap of $2\Delta(0)/k_\mathrm{B}T_\mathrm{C}$ = 3.84, close to the value of BCS theory. From transverse field $\mu$SR analysis we estimate the London penetration depth $\lambda_{L}$ = 469 nm, superconducting carrier density $n_{s}$ = 2$\times$10$^{26}$ $m^{-3}$, and effective mass m$^{*}$ = 1.584 $m_{e}$. Zero field $\mu$SR confirms the absence of any spontaneous magnetic moment in the superconducting ground state. To gain additional insights into the electronic ground state of C-doped Zr$_5$Pt$_3$, we have also performed first-principles calculations within the framework of density functional theory (DFT). The observed homogenous electronic character of the Fermi surface as well as the mutual decrease of $T_\mathrm{C}$ and density of states at the Fermi level are consistent with the experimental findings. However, the band structure reveals the presence of robust, gapless fourfold-degenarate nodal lines protected by $6_{3}$ screw rotations and glide mirror planes. Therefore, Zr$_5$Pt$_3$ represents a novel, unprecedented condensed matter system to investigate the intricate interplay between superconductivity and topology., Comment: 9 pages, 5 figures

We study the electronic structure of GdCrTiO 5 polycrystals by means of magnetic susceptibility and heat capacity measurements, as well as x-ray absorption spectroscopies on the Cr 2 p , Ti 2 p and O 1 s levels. The experimental results were interpreted with Charge Transfer Multiplet and Density Functional Theory calculations. Magnetic susceptibility and specific heat measurements indicate a long-range antiferromagnetic ordering at 0.9 K probably related to the Gd sublattice. The results indicate that spin-orbit interaction, rather than hybridization, may be crucial for the stabilization of magnetic ordering in the RCrTiO 5 (R = rare earth) family.

Magnetic properties of dilute single crystals of ${\mathrm{Gd}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{Y}}_{x}{\mathrm{B}}_{4}$ ($x=0$, 0.2, and 0.4) were systematically studied. These antiferromagnetic Shastry-Sutherland compounds display a remnant magnetization $M{}_{\mathrm{R}}$ when field cooled below the N\'eel temperature ${T}_{\mathrm{N}}$. The magnitude of $M{}_{\mathrm{R}}$ at low magnetic fields is magnetic field dependent, increasing with increasing magnetic fields, and it saturates for $H\ensuremath{\le}30$ Oe. The ${M}_{R}(T)$ data for both $x\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}=\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}0.2$ and 0.4 compositions overlap, and the remnant magnetization follows a universal behavior. We argue that these findings are explained by taking into account the formation of magnetic domains within the crystals, originating from the dilution of a magnetically frustrated, antiferromagnetic sublattice.

We report on the physical properties of the intermetallic series $R{\mathrm{NiSi}}_{3}\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}(R=\text{Y}$, Gd-Tm, Lu). High quality single crystals with platelike morphology were grown using the Sn flux method. X-ray powder diffraction data show that this series crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Cmmm, and Laue patterns indicate that the b axis remains perpendicular to the plane of the plates. Magnetization measurements show anisotropic antiferromagnetic ground states for $R$ = Gd-Tm with N\'eel temperatures ranging from ${T}_{N}=2.6$ K $({\mathrm{TmNiSi}}_{3})$ up to 32.2 K $({\mathrm{TbNiSi}}_{3})$, as well as metamagnetic transitions that in some cases appear together with hysteresis $({\mathrm{TbNiSi}}_{3},{\mathrm{DyNiSi}}_{3}$, and ${\mathrm{HoNiSi}}_{3})$. The easy axis changes from a axis to b axis on going from $R$ = Gd-Ho to $R$ = Er-Tm. All transitions from antiferromagnetic to paramagnetic states are clearly marked by sharp peaks in specific heat as well as in the derivative of resistivity measurements, which show metallic temperature dependence for all compounds and residual values in the range of $1\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Omega}}\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\mathrm{cm}$. ${\mathrm{DyNiSi}}_{3}$ has two close phase transitions, while ${\mathrm{HoNiSi}}_{3}$ presents distinct critical temperatures for applied fields in the $a$ or $c$ directions (10.4 and 6.3 K, respectively), pointing to possible component-specific ordering of the local magnetic moments.

The nonmonotonic behavior of the magnetic field dependence H of the superparamagnetic blocking temperature TB(H) (or Tmax(H)) of an assembly of magnetic nanoparticles NPs was studied both experimentally and theoretically. We have combined the measurements of zero-field cooling ZFC magnetization curves under H performed on samples with increasing concentration of Ni nanoparticles and Monte Carlo simulations. As a result, we have found that increasing the strength of the dipolar interaction between granules and the occurrence of a very narrow width of a log-normal volume particle size distribution of the NPs suppress the nonmonotonic behavior of Tmax(H).

Structural phase transitions at 87 K and 103 K are reported for single-crystalline Han Blue (BaCuSi4O10) by means of high-resolution thermal-expansion, thermal conductivity and heat capacity measurements. The phase transition at 103 K results in differing lengths of the a and b lattice parameters, and thus a lowering of the crystallographic symmetry. Negative thermal-expansion coefficients are observed perpendicular to the c-axis over a wide temperature range T 108 K 350 K (<

Magnetic carriers are an effective option to withdraw selected target molecules from complex mixtures or to immobilize enzymes. This paper describes the synthesis of robust silica magnetic microparticles (SMMps), particularly designed for applications in bioprocesses. SMMps were synthesized in a micro-emulsion, using sodium silicate as the silica source and superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles as the magnetic core. Thermally resistant particles, with high and accessible surface area, narrow particle size distribution, high saturation magnetization, and with superparamagnetic properties were obtained. Several reaction conditions were tested, yielding materials with saturation magnetization between 45 and 63 emu g −1 , particle size between 2 and 200 μm and average diameter between 11.2 and 15.9 μm, surface area between 49 and 103 m 2 g −1 and pore diameter between 2 and 60 nm. The performance of SMMps in a bioprocess was evaluated by the immobilization of Pseudomonas fluorescens lipase on to octyl modified SMMp, the biocatalyst obtained was used in the production of butyl butyrate with good results.

Common bean plants were grown in soil and irrigated with water solutions containing different concentrations of $$\hbox{Fe}_3\hbox{O}_4$$ nanoparticles (NPs) with a mean diameter close to 10 nm. No toxicity on plant growth has been detected as a consequence of Fe deficiency or excess in leaves. In order to track the $$\hbox{Fe}_3\hbox{O}_4$$ NPs, magnetization measurements were performed in soils and in three different dried organs of the plants: roots, stems, and leaves. Some magnetic features of both temperature and magnetic field dependence of magnetization M(T, H) arising from $$\hbox{Fe}_3\hbox{O}_4$$ NPs were identified in all the three organs of the plants. Based on the results of saturation magnetization $$M_\mathrm{s}$$ at 300 K, the estimated number of $$\hbox{Fe}_3\hbox{O}_4$$ NPs was found to increase from 2 to 3 times in leaves of common bean plants irrigated with solutions containing magnetic material. The combined results indicated that M(T, H) measurements, conducted in a wide range of temperature and applied magnetic fields up to 70 kOe, constitute a useful tool through which the uptake, translocation, and accumulation of magnetic nanoparticles by plant organs may be monitored and tracked.

Amostras policristalinas de La5/8-yPr yCa3/8MnO3, 0 0,35 também mostram uma transição para o estado de ordenamento de carga/orbital T OC. Uma análise das medidas de ro(T, H) sugere a coexistência de pelo menos duas fases distintas nesses materiais: uma ferromagnética-metálica FMM e uma segunda, com ordenamento de carga/orbital e comportamento isolante OCI. Os resultados também permitem concluir que as frações volumétricas dessas fases podem ser manipuladas, alterando-se parâmetros termodinâmicos como T e H. A magnetorresistência MR(T), determinada através das medidas de ro(T, H), foi observada ocorrer em uma larga faixa de temperatura e em todas as amostras pertencentes à série. Amostras ricas em Pr (y > 0,35) revelam um efeito de magnetorresistência colossal amplificado devido à coexistência e competição das FMM e OCI cujas frações volumétricas podem ser alteradas via mudança da temperatura e aplicação de um campo magnético externo. Polycrystalline samples of La5/8-yPr yCa3/8MnO3; 0 0.35 a transition to a charge and orbital-ordered state was also observed. The rho(T, H) data analyses suggest the coexistence of at least two ordered phases in these samples: a ferromagnetic metallic phase FMM and a charge and orbital-ordered insulating COI phase.The data also indicate that the volume fraction of these phases can be changed by the variation of thermodynamic parameters like temperature T and magnetic field H. The magnetoresistance MR(T) determined from rho(T, H) data were observed in a large temperature range for all samples. In addition, samples with y > 0.35 were found to display a pronounced colossal magnetoresistance effect due to a severe competition between FMM and COI coexisting phases.

The energy barrier distribution Eb of five samples with different concentrations x of Ni nanoparticles using scaling plots from ac magnetic susceptibility data has been determined. The scaling of the imaginary part of the susceptibility Chi"(nu, T) vs. Tln(t/tau_0) remains valid for all samples, which display Ni nanoparticles with similar shape and size. The mean value increases appreciably with increasing x, or more appropriately with increasing dipolar interactions between Ni nanoparticles. We argue that such an increase in constitutes a powerful tool for quality control in magnetic recording media technology where the dipolar interaction plays an important role., Comment: 3 pages, 3 figures, 1 table

The role of dipolar interactions among Ni nanoparticles (NP) embedded in an amorphous SiO2/C matrix with different concentrations has been studied performing ac magnetic susceptibility Chi_ac measurements. For very diluted samples, with Ni concentrations < 4 wt % Ni or very weak dipolar interactions, the data are well described by the Neel-Arrhenius law. Increasing Ni concentration to values up to 12.8 wt % Ni results in changes in the Neel-Arrhenius behavior, the dipolar interactions become important, and need to be considered to describe the magnetic response of the NPs system. We have found no evidence of a spin-glasslike behavior in our Ni NP systems even when dipolar interactions are clearly present., 7 pages, 5 figures, 3 tables

K0.05MoO2 has been studied by x-ray and neutron diffractometry, electrical resistivity, magnetization, heat capacity, and thermal expansion measurements. The compound displays two phase transitions, a first-order phase transition near room temperature and a second-order transition near 54 K. Below the transition at 54 K, a weak magnetic anomaly is observed and the electrical resistivity is well described by a power-law temperature dependence with exponent near 0.5. The phase transitions in the K-doped MoO2 compound have been discussed for the first time using neutron diffraction, high resolution thermal expansion, and heat capacity measurements as a function of temperature.

CuO nanograins (NGs) and CuO nanowires (NWs) on the top of nanograins samples were produced by the electrical resistive heating method. The NGs sample shows absence of long range magnetic order and strong field-induced ferromagnetic behavior. In the sample comprised of NWs on the top of NGs, a long-ranged antiferromagnetic ordering is induced by a magnetic field of 5 kOe and coexists with an enhanced ferromagnetic-like contribution. The ferromagnetic behavior is observed below and above the temperature-induced TN suggesting that this behavior is not dependent on the original magnetic state of the system, whether it is paramagnetic (PM) or antiferromagnetic.

Polycrystalline La5∕8−yPryCa3∕8MnO3, 0⩽y⩽0.625, samples were synthesized by the solid-state reaction method and studied using x-ray powder diffraction, magnetic susceptibility [χ(T)], and magnetoresistivity [ρ(T,H)] measurements. Some features such as an appreciable thermal hysteresis observed in both ρ(T) and χ(T) curves indicated a competing scenario due to the coexistence of different phases. We have also found that there is a critical region in the phase diagram, for the Pr concentration ranging from ∼0.30 to 0.40, where the magnitude of the insulator to metal transition temperature (TMI), the Curie temperature (TC), the magnetoresistance, and the residual resistivity (ρ0) are characterized by abrupt changes with little increase in y. Our data also indicate that the physical properties of these manganites in this critical region are dominated by a strong competition between coexisting ferromagnetic metallic and charge-ordered insulating phases.