Atomic-resolution study on the interface structure and strain state reversion of the Bi2Sr2CuO6+δ/MgO heterostructure

Progress in the Study of Vortex Pinning Centers in High-Temperature Superconducting Films

Since the discovery of high-temperature superconductors (HTSs), significant progress in the fabrication of HTS films has been achieved. In this review, we intend to provide an overview of recent progress in how and why superconductivity can be enhanced by introducing nanoscale vortex pinning centers. The comprehensive control of morphology, dimension, orientation and concentration of artificial pinning centers (APCs) and the principle of vortex pinning are the focus of this review. According to the existing literature, HTSs with the best superconductivity can be obtained when one-dimensional (1D) and three-dimensional (3D) nanoscale APCs are combined for vortex pinning.

A Review on Strain Study of Cuprate Superconductors

Cuprate superconductors have attracted extensive attention due to their broad promising application prospects. Among the factors affecting superconductivity, the effect of strain cannot be ignored, which can significantly enhance or degrade superconductivity. In this review, we discuss and summarize the methods of applying strain to cuprate superconductors, strain measurement techniques, and the influence of strain on superconductivity. Among them, we pay special attention to the study of strain in high-temperature superconducting (HTS) films and coating. We expect this review can guide further research in the field of cuprate superconductors.

The design of high performance photoanode of CQDs/TiO2/WO3 based on DFT alignment of lattice parameter and energy band, and charge distribution

Photoanode is the key issue for photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) water splitting and organics degradation. However, it always faces several restrictions including severe photocorrosion, low charge separation and transfer efficiencies, poor visible light harvesting, and sluggish interfacial reaction kinetics, which often required a variety of modifications with only low improvements achieved. Herein, a high performance CQDs/TiO₂/WO₃ photoanode was designed on the basis of density function theory (DFT) alignment of lattice parameters and energy band, and charge distribution. The TiO₂/WO₃ heterojunction can abate photocorrosion through the hetero-epitaxial growth of TiO₂ (001) on WO₃ (002) for the lattice mismatch <3% eliminating dangling bonds, with high corrosion resistance and photostability of TiO₂. As the built-in field constructed by a staggered band alignment structure with the valence band offset (VBO) of 0.51 eV, the photogenerated carriers transfer and separation are promoted dramatically. Through the DFT calculations, the sunlight absorption wavelength can be extended, and the interfacial reaction kinetics can be expedited with the modification of carbon quantum dots (CQDs) on TiO₂/WO₃, due to the narrower bandgap (E_g) and the accumulation of electrons at TiO₂ side. The DFT designed CQDs/TiO₂/WO₃ photoanode significantly increase photocurrent density from 0.90 to 2.03 mA cm^-2 at 1.23 V, charge separation efficiency from 56.3 to 79.2% and charge injection efficiency from 51.2 to 70.4%, and extend light absorption edge from 455 to 463 nm over pristine WO₃, with better photostability and lower holes-to-water resistance.