Discovery of Real-Space Topological Ferroelectricity in Metallic Transition Metal Phosphides

Ferroelectric metals-with coexisting ferroelectricity and structural asymmetry-challenge traditional perceptions because free electrons screen electrostatic forces between ions, the driving force of breaking the spatial inversion symmetry. Despite ferroelectric metals having been unveiled one after another, topologically switchable polar objects with metallicity have never been identified so far. Here, the discovery of real-space topological ferroelectricity in metallic and non-centrosymmetric Ni₂ P is reported. Protected by the rotation-inversion symmetry operation, it is found that the balanced polarity of alternately stacked polyhedra couples intimately with elemental valence states, which are verified using quantitative electron energy-loss spectroscopy. First-principles calculations reveal that an applied in-plane compressive strain creates a tunable bilinear double-well potential and reverses the polyhedral polarity on a unit-cell scale. The dual roles of nickel cations, including polar displacement inside polyhedral cages and a 3D bonding network, facilitate the coexistence of topological polarity with metallicity. In addition, the switchable in-plane polyhedral polarity gives rise to a spin-orbit-coupling-induced spin texture with large momentum-dependent spin splitting. These findings point out a new direction for exploring valence-polarity-spin correlative interactions via topological ferroelectricity in metallic systems with structural asymmetry.

Local electronic descriptors for solute-defect interactions in bcc refractory metals

The interactions between solute atoms and crystalline defects such as vacancies, dislocations, and grain boundaries are essential in determining alloy properties. Here we present a general linear correlation between two descriptors of local electronic structures and the solute-defect interaction energies in binary alloys of body-centered-cubic (bcc) refractory metals (such as W and Ta) with transition-metal substitutional solutes. One electronic descriptor is the bimodality of the d-orbital local density of states for a matrix atom at the substitutional site, and the other is related to the hybridization strength between the valance sp- and d-bands for the same matrix atom. For a particular pair of solute-matrix elements, this linear correlation is valid independent of types of defects and the locations of substitutional sites. These results provide the possibility to apply local electronic descriptors for quantitative and efficient predictions on the solute-defect interactions and defect properties in alloys.

Spin polarization of quantum well states in Ag films induced by the Rashba effect at the surface

The electronic structure of Ag(111) quantum well films covered with a (sqrt[3]xsqrt[3]) R30 degrees Bi/Ag surface ordered alloy, which shows a Rashba spin-split surface state, is investigated with angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy. The band dispersion of the spin-split surface state is significantly modified by the interaction with the quantum well states of Ag films. The interaction is well described by the band hybridization model, which concludes the spin polarization of the quantum well states.

Study of changes in L32 EELS ionization edges upon formation of Ni-based intermetallic compounds

EELS L32 ionization edges in several Ni-based intermetallic compounds have been studied and interpreted in terms of the distribution of electrons in the valence d-bands. It is demonstrated that the integral EELS cross-sections change only slightly upon the formation of intermetallic compounds and therefore the charge transfer between atoms is negligible. On the other hand, the changes in the fine energy-loss near-edge structure (ELNES) of the Ni L3 edge can be readily detected indicating an important redistribution of d-electrons at the Ni site with alloying. These features are well reproduced by ab-initio calculations with a FLAPW method in its WIEN97 implementation. In contrast to the drastic effect of chemical environment, structural transformations in the investigated intermetallics result in smaller ELNES changes, which can be detected by only exceptional instruments with a higher energy resolution.