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Magnetic kagome materials provide a fascinating playground for exploring the interplay of magnetism, correlation and topology. Many magnetic kagome systems have been reported including the binary FemXn (X = Sn, Ge; m:n = 3:1, 3:2, 1:1) family and the rare earth RMn6Sn6 (R = rare earth) family, where their kagome flat bands are calculated to be near the Fermi level in the paramagnetic phase. While partially filling a kagome flat band is predicted to give rise to a Stoner-type ferromagnetism, experimental visualization of the magnetic splitting across the ordering temperature has not been reported for any of these systems due to the high ordering temperatures, hence leaving the nature of magnetism in kagome magnets an open question. Here, we probe the electronic structure with angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy in a kagome magnet thin film FeSn synthesized using molecular beam epitaxy. We identify the exchange-split kagome flat bands, whose splitting persists above the magnetic ordering temperature, indicative of a local moment picture. Such local moments in the presence of the topological flat band are consistent with the compact molecular orbitals predicted in theory. We further observe a large spin-orbital selective band renormalization in the Fe d x y + d x 2 − y 2 spin majority channel reminiscent of the orbital selective correlation effects in the iron-based superconductors. Our discovery of the coexistence of local moments with topological flat bands in a kagome system echoes similar findings in magic-angle twisted bilayer graphene, and provides a basis for theoretical effort towards modeling correlation effects in magnetic flat band systems. Spectroscopic study on a kagome magnet thin film uncovers the local-moment nature of the magnetism in the presence of topological flat bands, as well as a strong spin- and orbital-selective electronic correlation effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the effect of remote surface optical (RSO) phonon scattering on carrier mobility in monolayer graphene gated by ferroelectric oxide. We fabricate monolayer graphene transistors back-gated by epitaxial (001) Ba0.6Sr0.4TiO3 films, with field effect mobility up to 23 000 cm2 V−1 s−1 achieved. Switching ferroelectric polarization induces nonvolatile modulation of resistance and quantum Hall effect in graphene at low temperatures. Ellipsometry spectroscopy studies reveal four pairs of optical phonon modes in Ba0.6Sr0.4TiO3, from which we extract RSO phonon frequencies. The temperature dependence of resistivity in graphene can be well accounted for by considering the scattering from the intrinsic longitudinal acoustic phonon and the RSO phonon, with the latter dominated by the mode at 35.8 meV. Our study reveals the room temperature mobility limit of ferroelectric-gated graphene transistors imposed by RSO phonon scattering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the impact of microbial interactions on siderophore dynamics and phenotypic differentiation of Staphylococcus aureus under irondeficient conditions. Optimization of media demonstrated that the glycerol alanine salts medium was best suited for analyzing the dynamics of siderophore production because of its stable production of diverse siderophore types. The effects of pH and iron concentration on siderophore yield revealed a maximum yield at neutral pH and low iron concentration (10 µg). Microbial interaction studies have highlighted variations in siderophore production when different strains (Staphylococcus epidermidis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli) are co-cultured with S. aureus. Co-culture of S. aureus with P. aeruginosa eliminated siderophore production in S. aureus, while co-culture of S. aureus with E. coli and S. epidermidis produced one or two siderophores, respectively. Raman spectroscopy revealed that microbial interactions and siderophore dynamics play a crucial role in directing the phenotypic differentiation of S. aureus, especially under iron-deficient conditions. Our results suggest that microbial interactions profoundly influence siderophore dynamics and phenotypic differentiation and that the study of these interactions could provide valuable insights for understanding microbial survival strategies in iron-limited environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electronic flat-band materials host quantum states characterized by a quenched kinetic energy. These flat bands are often conducive to enhanced electron correlation effects and emergent quantum phases of matter1. Long studied in theoretical models2–4, these systems have received renewed interest after their experimental realization in van der Waals heterostructures5,6 and quasi-two-dimensional (2D) crystalline materials7,8. An outstanding experimental question is if such flat bands can be realized in three-dimensional (3D) networks, potentially enabling new materials platforms9,10 and phenomena11–13. Here we investigate the C15 Laves phase metal CaNi2, which contains a nickel pyrochlore lattice predicted at a model network level to host a doubly-degenerate, topological flat band arising from 3D destructive interference of electronic hopping14,15. Using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, we observe a band with vanishing dispersion across the full 3D Brillouin zone that we identify with the pyrochlore flat band as well as two additional flat bands that we show arise from multi-orbital interference of Ni d-electrons. Furthermore, we demonstrate chemical tuning of the flat-band manifold to the Fermi level that coincides with enhanced electronic correlations and the appearance of superconductivity. Extending the notion of intrinsic band flatness from 2D to 3D, this provides a potential pathway to correlated behaviour predicted for higher-dimensional flat-band systems ranging from tunable topological15 to fractionalized phases16.Angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy of CaNi2 shows a band with vanishing dispersion across the full 3D Brillouin zone that is identified with the pyrochlore flat band as well as two additional flat bands that arise from multi-orbital interference of Ni d-electrons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geometrically frustrated kagome lattices are raising as novel platforms to engineer correlated topological electron flat bands that are prominent to electronic instabilities. Here, we demonstrate a phonon softening at the kz = π plane in ScV6Sn6. The low energy longitudinal phonon collapses at ~98 K and q = 1 3 1 3 1 2 due to the electron-phonon interaction, without the emergence of long-range charge order which sets in at a different propagation vector qCDW = 1 3 1 3 1 3 . Theoretical calculations corroborate the experimental finding to indicate that the leading instability is located at 1 3 1 3 1 2 of a rather flat mode. We relate the phonon renormalization to the orbital-resolved susceptibility of the trigonal Sn atoms and explain the approximately flat phonon dispersion. Our data report the first example of the collapse of a kagome bosonic mode and promote the 166 compounds of kagomes as primary candidates to explore correlated flat phonon-topological flat electron physics. The recently discovered charge density wave in ScV6Sn6 kagome metal is under intense debate. By using a combination of experimental and theoretical techniques, the authors point to the role of flat phonon mode softening and momentum-dependent electron-phonon coupling in the formation of the charge density wave. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) form a vital symbiotic relationship with plants. Through their extensive hyphal networks, AMF extend the absorptive capacity of plant roots, thereby allowing plants to reach otherwise inaccessible micronutrient sources. Iron, a critical micronutrient involved in photosynthesis and other metabolic processes, often becomes inaccessible owing to its tendency to form insoluble complexes in soil. AMF symbiosis significantly ameliorates this challenge by enhancing iron uptake and homeostasis in plants, altering root architecture, and producing root exudates that improve iron solubility. Moreover, the interaction with diverse soil bacteria, particularly plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria, can potentiate the benefits of AMF symbiosis. Siderophores are low-molecular-weight chelators with iron-binding capacities produced by various microorganisms and plant roots. They play pivotal roles in regulating intracellular iron and have been identified in different mycorrhizal associations, including AMF. While molecular mechanisms behind AMF-mediated iron uptake have been partially explored, the intricate networks involving AMF, plants, siderophores, and other soil microbiota are largely unknown. This review focuses on the multifaceted roles of AMF in plant–iron homeostasis, interactions with soil bacteria, and the potential of siderophores in these processes, emphasizing the possibilities for harnessing these relationships for sustainable agriculture and enhancing plant productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The discovery and development of ultra-wide bandgap (UWBG) semiconductors is crucial to accelerate the adoption of renewable power sources. This necessitates an UWBG semiconductor that exhibits robust doping with high carrier mobility over a wide range of carrier concentrations. Here we demonstrate that epitaxial thin films of the perovskite oxide NdxSr1−xSnO3 (SSO) do exactly this. Nd is used as a donor to successfully modulate the carrier concentration over nearly two orders of magnitude, from 3.7 × 1018 cm−3 to 2.0 × 1020 cm−3. Despite being grown on lattice-mismatched substrates and thus having relatively high structural disorder, SSO films exhibited the highest room-temperature mobility, ~70 cm2 V−1 s−1, among all known UWBG semiconductors in the range of carrier concentrations studied. The phonon-limited mobility is calculated from first principles and supplemented with a model to treat ionized impurity and Kondo scattering. This produces excellent agreement with experiment over a wide range of temperatures and carrier concentrations, and predicts the room-temperature phonon-limited mobility to be 76–99 cm2 V−1 s−1 depending on carrier concentration. This work establishes a perovskite oxide as an emerging UWBG semiconductor candidate with potential for applications in power electronics. Semiconductor research is undergoing transformative changes thanks to the discovery and development of novel materials. The authors disclose the role of electron-phonon interaction and impurity scattering in a novel ultrawide bandgap perovskite oxide, paving the way for new applications in high-power electronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A seemingly simple oxide with a rutile structure, RuO2, has been shown to possess several intriguing properties ranging from strain-stabilized superconductivity to a strong catalytic activity. Much interest has arisen surrounding the controlled synthesis of RuO2 films, but unfortunately, utilizing atomically controlled deposition techniques, such as molecular beam epitaxy (MBE), has been difficult due to the ultra-low vapor pressure and low oxidation potential of Ru. Here, we demonstrate the growth of epitaxial, single crystalline RuO2 films on different substrate orientations using the novel solid-source metal–organic (MO) MBE. This approach circumvents these issues by supplying Ru using a "pre-oxidized" solid MO precursor containing Ru. High-quality epitaxial RuO2 films with a bulk-like room-temperature resistivity of 55 μΩ cm were obtained at a substrate temperature as low as 300 °C. By combining x-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and electrical measurements, we discuss the effect of substrate temperature, orientation, film thickness, and strain on the structure and electrical properties of these films. Our results illustrating the use of a novel solid-source metal–organic MBE approach pave the way to the atomic-layer controlled synthesis of complex oxides of "stubborn" metals, which are not only difficult to evaporate but also hard to oxidize. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advances in physical vapor deposition techniques have led to a myriad of quantum materials and technological breakthroughs, affecting all areas of nanoscience and nanotechnology which rely on the innovation in synthesis. Despite this, one area that remains challenging is the synthesis of atomically precise complex metal oxide thin films and heterostructures containing "stubborn" elements that are not only nontrivial to evaporate/sublimate but also hard to oxidize. Here, we report a simple yet atomically controlled synthesis approach that bridges this gap. Using platinum and ruthenium as examples, we show that both the low vapor pressure and the difficulty in oxidizing a "stubborn" element can be addressed by using a solid metal-organic compound with significantly higher vapor pressure and with the added benefits of being in a preoxidized state along with excellent thermal and air stability. We demonstrate the synthesis of high-quality single crystalline, epitaxial Pt, and RuO2 films, resulting in a record high residual resistivity ratio (=27) in Pt films and low residual resistivity, ~6 μΩ·cm, in RuO2 films. We further demonstrate, using SrRuO3 as an example, the viability of this approach for more complex materials with the same ease and control that has been largely responsible for the success of the molecular beam epitaxy of III-V semiconductors. Our approach is a major step forward in the synthesis science of "stubborn" materials, which have been of significant interest to the materials science and the condensed matter physics community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main aim of the present study was to determine the effects of a seaweed-based biostimulant's supplementation on the growth of Chlorella variabilis. A liquid extract from Kappaphycus alvarezii (K-sap) was prepared and supplemented in the growth medium from 0.2 to 5% concentrations. The supplementation of K-sap increased the growth and photosynthetic performance of C. variabilis. Addition of 0.4% K-sap increased the biomass production by about 59% compared to the control culture. The highest lipid and neutral lipid productivities were observed in 0.6% K-sap-supplemented culture, which were around 50 and 100% higher than that of the control culture, respectively. Addition of 1% K-sap increased the carbohydrate accumulation in the cells by about 50%. These results suggest that the supplementation of a seaweed-based biostimulant effectively enhances the growth and biofuel potential of microalgae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a study of the I-V characteristics of 2.5-5.4 nm epitaxial La1-xSrxMnO3 (x=0.33 and 0.5) and La0.7Ca0.3MnO3 thin films. While La0.67Sr0.33MnO3 films exhibit linear conduction over the entire temperature and magnetic field ranges investigated, we observe a strong correlation between the linearity of the I-V relation and the metal-insulator transition in highly phase separated La0.5Sr0.5MnO3 and La0.7Ca0.3MnO3 films. Linear I-V behavior has been observed in the high temperature paramagnetic insulating phase, and an additional current term proportional to Va (a=1.5-2.8) starts to develop below the metal-insulator transition temperature TMI, with the onset temperature of the nonlinearity increasing in magnetic field as TMI increases. The exponent a increases with decreasing temperature and increasing magnetic field and is significantly enhanced in ultrathin films with thicknesses close to that of the electrically dead layer. We attribute the origin of the nonlinearity to transport through the nanoscale coexisting metallic and insulating regions. Our results suggest that phase separation is not fully quenched even at low temperatures and high magnetic fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By combining temperature-dependent resistivity and Hall effect measurements, we investigate donor state energy in Si-doped β-Ga2O3 films grown using metal-organic vapor phase epitaxy. High-magnetic field (H) Hall effect measurements (–90 kOe ≤ H ≤ +90 kOe) showed non-linear Hall resistance for T < 150 K, revealing two-band conduction. Further analyses revealed carrier freeze out characteristics in both bands yielding donor state energies of ∼33.7 and ∼45.6 meV. The former is consistent with the donor energy of Si in β-Ga2O3, whereas the latter suggests a residual donor state. This study provides critical insight into the impurity band conduction and the defect energy states in β-Ga2O3 using high-field magnetotransport measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Co-cultivation systems offer the potential to commercialize microalgae biomass. The key purpose of the study was to understand the relationship between siderophore-producing bacterium Idiomarina loihiensis RS14 and Chlorella variabilis ATCC 12198 strain for Chlorella growth enhancement. After observing growth enhancement in C. variabilis by adding metal chelator deferroxamine mesylate (siderophore standard) and purified siderophore from I. loihiensis (1 mg mL−1), a co-cultivation system was designed where axenic microalgae and co-cultured (microalgae + bacteria) aliquots were grown in (1:9, 9:1, 1:1) volumetric inoculum ratio (mL) under iron-sufficient and iron-deficient conditions. The co-culture volumetric ratio 1:1 (microalgae/bacteria) showed bleaching of microalgae and 1:9 showed less biomass (310 mg L−1) comparatively with 9:1 that increased 35% of biomass, i.e., 650 mg L−1 (axenic) to 1000 mg L−1 (co-cultured) in iron-deficient media. The inoculum ratios were optimized in 100 mL shake flask and 9:1 ratio was further scaled up with the similar conditions, and the co-culture showed 20% increase in biomass, i.e., 285.6 mg L−1 (axenic) to 356 mg L−1 (co-cultured). The co-cultured biomass contains 19.70% lipid content compared with axenic algae, i.e., 18.41% which shows 7% of increase in co-culture. Protein content increased to 30% in co-culture microalgae compared with axenic microalgae. Scanning electron microscope images show crumpled surface of Chlorella cells in co-cultured compared with its axenic cells. This finding is of interest for biofuel production from microalgae, often attained through nutrient-starvation processes leading to oil accumulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A halotolerant bacterium Acinetobacter soli (MTCC 5918), isolated from the salt farm of our institute, was found to secrete a novel siderophore under iron deprivation conditions. A combination of multinuclear one and two dimensional NMR spectroscopies in conjunction with mass technique revealed that the siderophore, we named acinetoamonabactin (1), is a triscatechol derivative of tris(aminomethyl)methylamine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Potassium-solubilizing bacteria were isolated from solar salt pans of an experimental salt farm and Sambhar Lake, mining areas of Naseerabad, and wastewater from a marble cutting machinery. Seven promising bacterial isolates from Makrana, three from Sambhar Lake, and three from Naseerabad were found to have comparatively better potassium-solubilizing capacity. Out of these, three potential bacterial isolates were identified as Acinetobacter soli (MTCC 5918), Enterobacter xiangfangensis (MTCC 5917), and Acinetobacter baumannii (MTCC 5916). A. soli was found to have maximum potassium-releasing capacity in the supernatant which may be further applied as a biofertilizer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]