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Freestanding oxide membranes constitute an intriguing material platform for new functionalities and allow integration of oxide electronics with technologically important platforms such as silicon. Sambri et al. recently reported a method to fabricate freestanding LaAlO3/SrTiO3 (LAO/STO) membranes by spalling of strained heterostructures. Here, we first develop a scheme for the high-yield fabrication of membrane devices on silicon. Second, we show that the membranes exhibit metallic conductivity and a superconducting phase below ∼200 mK. Using anisotropic magnetotransport we extract the superconducting phase coherence length ξ ≈ 36-80 nm and establish an upper bound on the thickness of the superconducting electron gas d ≈ 17-33 nm, thus confirming its two-dimensional character. Finally, we show that the critical current can be modulated using a silicon-based backgate. The ability to form superconducting nanostructures of LAO/STO membranes, with electronic properties similar to those of the bulk counterpart, opens opportunities for integrating oxide nanoelectronics with silicon-based architectures.

Industrial heat and cooling applications are an essential fraction of the overall energy demand, mainly produced by fossil fuels. Solar thermal energy production can satisfy such a need by adopting the High Vacuum Flat Plate Collectors (HVFPCs) and increasing their efficiency. The absorptance and emittance of Selective Solar Absorbers (SSAs) determine the thermal efficiency of HVFPCs. Being the absorptance already maximized, the thermal emittance of the absorber should be minimized to increase further the operating temperature of the collector and its efficiency. This research aims to reduce the thermal emittance of commercially available Selective Solar Absorber by depositing a thin silver film on the aluminium substrate. So, in this work, the thermal stability of a silver coating has been investigated, and a diffusion barrier layer has been adopted to stabilize the coating performance up to 360 °C. The low-emissive layer of Ag and a diffusion barrier of CrOx guarantees a decrease of 11% in thermal emittance at 200 °C of commercially available SSA deposited on aluminium. Further emittance reduction can be obtained by depositing a thin Ag film on both sides of the aluminium substrate before the SSA deposition, proving to be a promising way to enhance the efficiency of HVFPCs.

We investigate the performance of a novel flat photovoltaic-thermal (PV-T) module under high-vacuum through a 1D numerical model based on steady-state energy balance, with the aims of optimizing the simultaneous production of thermal and electrical energy. In the proposed design, the photovoltaic (PV) cell is positioned directly above the selective solar absorber (SSA), in a multilayer or fully integrated PV-SSA structure, which allows full exploitation of spectral solar radiation. In fact, in this configuration the losses related to non-absorption of low-energy photons and thermalization, typical of a classical single-junction PV cell, are reduced. The present study is conducted as the emittance and energy bandgap of the PV layer varied, thus admitting a wide variety of materials into the analysis. The dependence of the temperature coefficient, β(%/K), on the energy bandgap of the PV cell is also included. In the last part of the work, we discuss the performance of the proposed evacuated PV-T equipped with a SSA layer and thin film solar cells, namely those made of CdTe, CdS and GaAs. Overall, the paper highlights the great advantage of using high vacuum insulation, which suppresses conductive losses, and the versatility of the proposed system, which could be adapted to the user's needs simply by choosing the appropriate material for the photovoltaic layer.

This work deals with the performance evaluation of novel flat photovoltaic-thermal (PV-T) modules under vacuum. Through a 1D (dimensional) steady-state-energy-balance numerical model developed in MATLAB, two different layouts are studied: the first consisting of a photovoltaic (PV) cell installed just below the glass encapsulating the flat panel, and the second where the PV cell is placed on the selective solar absorber (SSA). In both cases the thermal and electrical efficiencies have been evaluated at different SSA operating temperatures, in the range of 323 K to 423 K. The analysis has been conducted at different energy bandgap (Ebg) of the PV cell and assuming a variable transmittance or emittance of the PV cell, depending on the design. The two systems efficiency comparison has been carried out at the same operating temperature. Overall, this work highlights the importance of high vacuum insulation, which guarantees the reduction of convective thermal losses, and shows that the maximum energy is produced for PV cells with Ebg ≈1.5-1.7 eV, depending on layout and operating temperature, by including the thermal output in the PV-T optimization. The energy and exergy efficiencies obtainable using the proposed PV-T systems are considerably improved compared to the results previously reported in the literature.

We present the results obtained using Cr2O3 as selective absorbing layer on aluminium film substrate. The thin films were deposited by electron beam evaporation using a multiple crucible e-gun able to deposit 4 materials in sequence without breaking the vacuum. Optical characterization of the multilayer films is based on ellipsometry and hemispherical reflectivity. The complex refractive index has been determinate and it has been used to design a selective solar absorber with high absorptance.

Among solar thermal collectors, the evacuated flat panel is emerging as a reference technology for operation at higher temperatures of up to 200 °C with an increased annual energy production owing to both direct and diffuse light capture. Accurate measurements of the optical properties of the selective absorbers used in such devices are key for a reliable estimation of the overall performance. These optical properties must be measured under high vacuum at high temperatures, conditions under which the panels are meant to operate. In this study, we accurately measured these properties using a calorimetric technique. The measurement procedure is based on a power balance equation for a flat sample suspended in a high-vacuum chamber with minimal thermal losses and is well adapted for this class of devices. Calorimetric measurements obtained under Sun and LED light revealed excellent reproducibility and good agreement with those obtained using traditional optical analysis at low temperatures in air. When extended up to the absorber stagnation temperature, which often exceeds 300 °C, the calorimetric measurements started to deviate from the optical measurements, indicating the importance of measuring under the operating conditions.

Interfacial inversion symmetry breaking gives rise to electronic properties that differ substantially from those of the bulk constituent materials. Here, we report on the realization of an artificial ferromagnetic quasi-two-dimensional electron gas (q2DEG) at the (111) interfaces between LaAlO3, EuTiO3, and SrTiO3characterized by a reconstruction of the bulk quasioctahedral crystal field into a trigonal one. The q2DEG is created through a transfer of electrons to the EuTiO3layers at the interface with LaAlO3, extending into the first layers of SrTiO3, as shown by an electron-energy-loss spectroscopy map of the titanium valence with atomic column resolution. Interestingly, polarized X-ray absorption spectroscopy shows that the Eu-4f and the Ti-3d magnetic moments order ferromagnetically and exhibit the same magnetic field dependence at low temperature. In addition, the q2DEG presents a sizable in-plane orbital moment even at low magnetic field (0.1 T) possibly related to Ti-3d electrons occupying bands with the main a1gorbital character. The results show an intriguing interplay between ferromagnetism, spin-orbit coupling, and trigonal crystal field splitting in the (111) LaAlO3/EuTiO3/SrTiO3q2DEG.

Solar thermal absorbers lose an increasing amount of heat at higher operating temperatures, limiting their efficiencies. An infrared mirror characterized by a high transmittance in the visible region of the spectrum while having high reflectance in the mid-IR could be crucial for a partial recovery of heat radiated by absorbers operating at high temperatures. Thanks to the cold-side external photon recycling mechanism, an IR mirror applied to an evacuated collector could lead to increase in efficiency of up to 60%. Here, we demonstrate the feasibility of such a mirror, which in principle is developed for high-vacuum flat solar thermal collectors, but is easily adaptable to other applications. The mirror presented has a very simple design, based on a discrete rugate filter scheme, and does not require multi-cathode deposition tools, which further simplifies the manufacturing process.

Multilayer absorbers based on Cr2O3 and Cr, designed to improve the Solar-to-thermal conversion efficiency at mid temperatures in high vacuum flat thermal panel, are fabricated via sputtering deposition on bulk copper substrates and characterized by thermal and optical analysis. The refractive index of the single layers has been measured and used to estimate absorber thermal efficiency at the operating temperatures. Multilayers have been produced via sputtering deposition on bulk copper substrates. The absorber multilayers can be 10% more efficient than the commercial alternative at 250 °C operating temperatures, reaching 380 °C stagnation temperature without Sun concentration. The thermal stability has been checked at temperature of 400 °C in vacuum for four hours. High vacuum flat thermal collectors, equipped with the produced selective solar absorbers can obtain unprecedented performances and can give important contribution to the energy transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy for efficient heat production.

Optical characterization and thermal aging tests are performed on a sputter-deposited coating, consisting of SiO2/Cr2O3/Cr/Cr2O3 layers, designed and developed as a selective solar absorber to be used for unconcentrated solar thermal applications. Both measurements are performed by using a home-made apparatus, which mimics a flat plate collector under high vacuum. A Performance Criterion ( P C η ( T ) ), based on absorber efficiency is proposed, and a forecast of service lifetime is obtained. As a result of the thermal aging tests, the selective solar absorber under study appears to be highly efficient at mid temperatures (up to 573 K) and thermally stable at temperatures (up to 690 K).

Optical characterization and thermal aging tests are performed on a sputter-deposited coating, consisting of SiO2/Cr2O3/Cr/Cr2O3 layers, designed and developed as a selective solar absorber to be used for unconcentrated solar thermal applications. Both measurements are performed by using a home-made apparatus, which mimics a flat plate collector under high vacuum. A Performance Criterion ( P C η ( T ) ), based on absorber efficiency is proposed, and a forecast of service lifetime is obtained. As a result of the thermal aging tests, the selective solar absorber under study appears to be highly efficient at mid temperatures (up to 573 K) and thermally stable at temperatures (up to 690 K).

Thanks to high resolution and polarization analysis, resonant inelastic x-ray scattering (RIXS) magnetic spectra of La2CuO4, Sr2CuO2Cl2 and CaCuO2 reveal a rich set of properties of the spin 1/2 antiferromagnetic square lattice of cuprates. The leading single-magnon peak energy dispersion is in excellent agreement with the corresponding inelastic neutron scattering measurements. However, the RIXS data unveil an asymmetric lineshape possibly due to odd higher order terms. Moreover, a sharp bimagnon feature emerges from the continuum at (1/2,0), coincident in energy with the bimagnon peak detected in optical spectroscopy. These findings show that the inherently complex spin spectra of cuprates, an exquisite manifestation of quantum magnetism, can be effectively explored by exploiting the richness of RIXS cross sections., 7 pages, 3 figures

The ability to form freestanding oxide membranes of nanoscale thickness is of great interest for enabling material functionality and for integrating oxides in flexible electronic and photonic technologies. Recently, a route has been demonstrated for forming conducting heterostructure membranes of LaAlO

Reducing thermal losses in solar thermal devices is fundamental for enhancing conversion efficiencies, particularly at high operating temperatures. In this work, we consider the benefits of adding an InfraRed (IR) mirror coating to the inner surface of the glass encapsulating a High Vacuum insulated Flat Plate solar thermal Panel (HVFP). The IR mirror helps recover the radiation emitted by the absorber by sending it back to the absorber itself. This mechanism, known as cold-side external photon recycling, allows a reduction of radiative losses and, consequently, an improvement of the panel efficiency. The performance of the structure presented in this manuscript is studied via a thermal model. A detailed discussion on the increasing efficiency is presented, and results are presented by taking into account different parameters, like the mirror transparency, reflectivity and reflection bandwidth, as well as different operating temperatures of the panel. Finally, the annual energy gain associated with the IR mirror is analyzed in the case of three different cities, using historical data, showing that improvement higher than 50% can be obtained at operating temperatures above 300 °C.

Indoor testing of solar thermal absorbers requires an artificial light source with controlled emitted power and uniform illumination over the targeted sample. There are several devices described in literature which adopt different types of light sources and geometrical configurations, but they do not attain high uniformity, high power density, illumination of a large area and compactness simultaneously. The proposed solar simulator is composed of four identical high-power white LED arrays of 30 mm diameter each, placed on a supporting and cooling structure having a minimum volume of 26 cm × 26 cm × 8 cm. A numerical model has been developed, based on a ray tracing software, in order to define the optimal architecture. It has then been experimentally validated with measurements of the power density map, carried out with a 1% uncertainty pyranometer. Data shows that the built system is very stable over time and provides an illumination uniformity higher than 98% on a surface of 11 cm × 11 cm, which reduces to 95% on a surface of 15 cm × 15 cm. The power density can be adjusted within the 390–1360 W m−2 range without affecting uniformity, and the system is easily scalable to illuminate larger surfaces. It represents a suitable solution for various laboratory purposes requiring stable, uniform and high intensity illumination.

The ability to form freestanding oxide membranes of nanoscale thickness is of great interest for enabling material functionality and for integrating oxides in flexible electronic and photonic technologies. Recently, a route has been demonstrated for forming conducting heterostructure membranes of LaAlO3 and SrTiO3, the canonical system for oxide electronics. In this route, the epitaxial growth of LaAlO3 on SrTiO3 resulted in a strained state that relaxed by producing freestanding membranes with random sizes and locations. Here, we extend the method to enable self-formed LaAlO3/SrTiO3 micromembranes with control over membrane position, their lateral sizes from 2 to 20 mu m, and with controlled transfer to other substrates of choice. This method opens up the possibility to study and use the two-dimensional electron gas in LaAlO3/SrTiO3 membranes for advanced device concepts.

In this work, the irreversible effects of an applied electric field on the magnetotransport properties of LaAlO3/SrTiO3 conducting interfaces are investigated, with focus on their multiband character. Samples of different types, namely with either crystalline or amorphous LaAlO3 overlayer, are studied. The two-band analysis highlights the similarity of the electronic properties of crystalline and amorphous interfaces, regardless much different carrier densities and mobilities. Furthermore, filling and depletion of the two bands follow very similar patterns, at least in qualitative terms, in the two types of samples. In agreement with previous works on crystalline interfaces, it is observed that an irreversible charge depletion takes place after application of a first positive back gate voltage step. Such charge depletion affects much more, in relative terms, the higher and three-dimensional dyz, dzx bands than the lower and bidimensional dxy, driving the system through the Lifshitz transition from two-band to single band behavior. The quantitative analysis of experimental data evidences the roles of disorder, apparent in the depletion regime, and temperature. Noteworthy, filling and depletion of the two bands follow very similar patterns in crystalline and amorphous samples, at least in qualitative terms, regardless much different carrier densities and mobilities.

This study refers to the optimization of a Selective Solar Absorber to improve the Sun-to-thermal conversion efficiency at mid temperatures in high vacuum flat thermal collectors. Efficiency has been evaluated by using analytical formula and a numerical thermal model. Both results have been experimentally validated using a commercial absorber in a custom experimental set-up. The optimization procedure aimed at obtaining Selective Solar Absorber is presented and discussed in the case of a metal dielectric multilayer based on Cr2O3 and Ti. The importance of adopting a real spectral emissivity curve to estimate high thermal efficiency at high temperatures in selective solar absorber is outlined. Optimized absorber multilayers can be 8% more efficient than the commercial alternative at 250 °C operating temperatures and up to 27% more efficient at 300 °C. Once the multilayer has been optimized the choice of a very low emissivity substrate such as copper allows to further improve efficiency and to reach stagnation temperature higher than 400 °C without Sun concentration.

Despite its simple structure and low degree of electronic correlation, SrTiO_{3} (STO) features collective phenomena linked to charge transport and, ultimately, superconductivity, that are not yet fully explained. Thus, a better insight into the nature of the quasiparticles shaping the electronic and conduction properties of STO is needed. We studied the low-energy excitations of bulk STO and of the LaAlO_{3}/SrTiO_{3} two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) by Ti L_{3} edge resonant inelastic x-ray scattering. In all samples, we find the hallmark of polarons in the form of intense dd+phonon excitations, and a decrease of the LO3-mode electron-phonon coupling when going from insulating to highly conducting STO single crystals and heterostructures. Both results are attributed to the dynamic screening of the large polaron self-induced polarization, showing that the low-temperature physics of STO and STO-based 2DEGs is dominated by large polaron quasiparticles.

A multilayer structure on a metallic substrate has been optically simulated and the optimization procedure aimed at obtaining Selective Solar Absorber (SSA) is discussed. This study refers to flat high vacuum thermal collectors and the overall Sun-to-thermal conversion efficiency has been evaluated using analytical formula and numerical thermal model. Both methods are in agreement and they have been validated using experimental results on a commercial absorber. The importance of a low emittance value to obtain high thermal efficiency at high temperatures and high stagnation temperature in selective solar absorber is highlighted. Optimized absorbers can be 8% more efficient than the commercial alternative at 250 °C operating temperatures and up to 27% more efficient at 300 °C. A stagnation temperature higher than 400 °C can be reached without Sun concentration if the proper design is adopted.

Uniform illumination is a key requirement in different research fields. However, this requirement is often difficult to achieve when high intensity is required at the same time. Recent advancements in LED lamps allow nowadays for compact and economical solutions. In this work we present a suitable solution for various laboratory purposes requiring stable, uniform and high intensity illumination. The system is composed of four identical high power white LED arrays of 30 mm diameter each, placed on a supporting and cooling structure having a minimum volume of 26 cm x 26 cm x 8 cm. A numerical model has been developed, based on a ray tracing software, in order to simulate the performances. These have then been experimentally validated with measurements of the power density map, carried out with a 1% uncertainty pyranometer. Data show that the built system is very stable over time and provides an illumination uniformity higher than 98%, on a surface of 50 mm radius, which reduces to 95% on a surface of 75 mm radius. The power density can be adjusted in the 390-1360 W m-2 range, not affecting uniformity.

Solar thermal absorbers experience heat losses at high temperatures, thus limiting their efficiencies. In this work we present an InfraRed (IR) window coating capable of recycling thermal radiation back to the absorber to reduce losses and improve efficiencies. This mechanism is what we call cold-side external photon recycling. Several designs have been investigated in a preliminary study, ranging from a simple alternation of two different optical materials, as in the case of a Distributed Bragg Reflector (DBR) design, to more complex structures like the rugate filters. The ideal design of a rugate filter makes use of a huge number of different optical materials and layers, useful to reach a continuous variation of the refractive index profile which guarantee a minimization of the undesired reflections. Here, we show that some of these advantages can still be obtained by using a limited number of materials coupled with a proper design, and we extend prior theoretical work to include a realistic set of materials for ease of fabrication and validation. The resulting IR mirror, based on a rugate-multilayer structure, presents favorable properties: the high transmissivity in the visible region of the spectrum allows the Solar radiation to reach the absorber, without altering its performance greatly; instead, a reflection window width of almost 1 µm in the mid-IR region allows for partial recovery of heat radiated by the absorber that otherwise would be lost, and the reduced number of materials can simplify fabrication. Finally, the design has been developed for the particular case of a high-vacuum flat solar thermal panel, but it could be applied to any solar thermal device with an emissive surface without altering the absorber performance greatly.

A dielectric mirror with high infrared reflection and high visible transmission, based on an easily fabricated stepped index rugate filter structure, is presented. Its fabrication involves sputtering depositions, using only two targets, to make five different material compositions. The ultra-wide reflection band is tunable in both position and width, adapting the thickness of the layers and eventually introducing chirped layers. When applied to evacuated solar thermal devices, efficiency improvements of up to 30% can be achieved, making this mirror an attractive solution for reducing radiative losses through the cold-side photon recycling mechanism.

Thermal emitters play a key role in controlling the thermal radiation emitted in thermophotovoltaic systems and in increasing their energy conversion efficiency. Here, we present different designs of emitters with spectrally selective properties, based on easy-to-fabricate multilayer structures and characterized by a sharp transition from high to low emissivity in the region of interest. Those structures make use of refractory materials to allow working at high operating temperatures and they can be easily customized to maximize the thermal emission in the region of the desired wavelengths.

In solar flat plate collectors, the high vacuum insulation suppresses the convective losses increasing the collector efficiency. The solar-to-thermal energy conversion efficiency in such solar thermal collectors is mainly defined by the optical and radiation losses of the selective solar absorber. We present the full process of design, optimization, fabrication, and characterization of multilayer coatings specifically thought for working in high vacuum flat solar thermal collectors at different operating temperatures, from 100 °C to 300 °C. We discuss the relative importance of absorptance and emittance in determining the collector thermal efficiency. The robustness of the performance of the coatings related to the unpreventable errors in layer thickness during the manufacturing stage is also considered through a genetic optimisation algorithm.

Fabrication of thin-film multilayer structures by sputtering typically requires a multi-cathode deposition machine. This study proposes a simpler approach based on the radio-frequency power modulation; thin silicon nitride (SiN x ) thin films were prepared by radio-frequency reactive sputtering in an (Ar + N 2 ) atmosphere at room temperature. The samples were analyzed to highlight the effects of different deposition conditions on the morphological and optical properties of the films in the visible and near/mid-infrared (IR) regions. The refractive index of the films was varied from 1.5 - 2.5 (at λ =800 nm) by tuning the sputtering power. IR reflectance measurements indicated the absence of spurious (oxygen- or hydrogen-based) phases; atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy indicated flat and homogeneous sample surfaces.

We report the study of anatase TiO2(001)-oriented thin films grown by pulsed laser deposition on LaAlO3(001). A combination of in situ and ex situ methods has been used to address both the origin of the Ti(3+)-localized states and their relationship with the structural and electronic properties on the surface and the subsurface. Localized in-gap states are analyzed using resonant X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and are related to the Ti(3+) electronic configuration, homogeneously distributed over the entire film thickness. We find that an increase in the oxygen pressure corresponds to an increase in Ti(3+) only in a well-defined range of deposition pressure; outside this range, Ti(3+) and the strength of the in-gap states are reduced.

Two-dimensional electron gases (2DEGs) at oxide interfaces still show, almost 15 years after their discovery, new intriguing and unexpected properties. The discovery of 2D electron gases in interfaces with an amorphous overlayer has made the debate about the origin of the free electrons even more intense. Here, it is shown a substantial conductivity modulation induced by light in 2DEG at the amorphous-LaGaO3/SrTiO3. Visible-range photons induce a strongly temperature-dependent conductivity increase. The extensive measurements, ranging from 300 K down to 8 K, with light intensity between 25 and 100 mW/cm2, deepen the understanding of the photo-responsivity dynamics, while correlating it with the electric transport mechanism. The reported data show interesting findings, useful to clarify several aspects of the complex physics of this material.

The discovery of 2D conductivity at the LaAlO3/SrTiO3 interface has been linking, for over a decade, two of the major current research fields in materials science: correlated transition-metal-oxide systems and low-dimensional systems. Notably, despite the 2D nature of the interfacial electron gas, the samples are 3D objects with thickness in the mm range. This prevented researchers so far from adopting strategies that are only viable for fully 2D materials, or from effectively exploiting degrees of freedom related to strain, strain gradient and curvature. Here a method based on pure strain engineering for obtaining freestanding LaAlO3/SrTiO3 membranes with micrometer lateral dimensions is demonstrated. Detailed transmission electron microscopy investigations show that the membranes are fully epitaxial and that their curvature results in a huge strain gradient, each layer showing a mixed compressive/tensile strain state. Electronic devices are fabricated by realizing ad hoc circuits for individual micro-membranes transferred on silicon chips. The samples exhibit metallic conductivity and electrostatic field effect like 2D-electron systems in bulk heterostructures. The results open a new path for adding oxide functionalities into semiconductor electronics, potentially allowing for ultra-low voltage gating of a superconducting transistors, micromechanical control of the 2D electron gas mediated by ferroelectricity and flexoelectricity, and on-chip straintronics.

This paper presents the design, fabrication, and characterization of Schottky graphene/silicon photodetectors that operate at a wavelength of 2 μm. These graphene/silicon junctions are carefully characterized using electric and optical measurements over the temperature range from 280–315 K. The photodetectors show external responsivity of 0.16 mA/W at room temperature under zero bias conditions, which is in excellent agreement with the theoretical predictions. In addition, the device performance is discussed in terms of the noise equivalent power and operating bandwidth. To the best of our knowledge, these are the first Si-based photodetectors designed for operation in free space at 2 μm. The proposed devices will pave the way toward development of hybrid graphene-Si free-space illuminated photodetectors operating at 2 μm for applications including free-space optical communications, optical coherence tomography and light-based radar systems.

We report the study of anatase TiO

The time-resolved photoconductance of amorphous and crystalline LaAlO$_3$/SrTiO$_3$ interfaces, both hosting an interfacial 2-dimensional electron gas, is investigated under irradiation by variable-wavelengths, visible or ultraviolet photons. Unlike bare SrTiO$_3$ single crystals, showing relatively small photoconductance effects, both kinds of interfaces exhibit an intense and highly persistent photoconductance with extraordinarily long characteristic times. The temporal behaviour of the extra photoinduced conductance persisting after light irradiation shows a complex dependence on interface type (whether amorphous or crystalline), sample history and irradiation wavelength. \textcolor{black}{The experimental results indicate that different mechanisms of photoexcitation are responsible for the photoconductance of crystalline and amorphous LaAlO$_3$/SrTiO$_3$ interfaces under visible light. We propose that the response of crystalline samples is mainly due to the promotion of electrons from the valence bands of both SrTiO$_3$ and LaAlO$_3$. This second channel is less relevant in amorphous LaAlO$_3$/SrTiO$_3$, where the higher density of point defects plays instead a major role., 8 pages, 5 figures, 3 tables, accepted on Scientific Reports 2015

The electronic properties of NdGaO3/SrTiO3, LaGaO3/SrTiO3 and LaAlO3/SrTiO3 interfaces, all showing an insulator-to-metal transition as a function of the overlayer-thickness, are addressed in a comparative study based on x-ray absorption, x-ray photoemission and resonant photoemission spectroscopy. The nature of the charge carriers, their concentration and spatial distribution as well as the interface band alignments and the overall interface band diagrams are studied and quantitatively evaluated. The behavior of the three analyzed heterostructures is found to be remarkably similar. The valence band edge of all the three overlayers aligns to that of bulk SrTiO3. The near-interface SrTiO3 layer is affected, at increasing overlayer thickness, by the building-up of a confining potential. This potential bends both the valence and the conduction band downwards. The latter one crossing the Fermi energy in the proximity of the interface and determines the formation of an interfacial band offset growing as a function of thickness. Quite remarkably, but in agreement with previous reports for LaAlO3/SrTiO3, no electric field is detected inside any of the polar overlayers. The essential phenomenology emerging from our findings is discussed on the base of different alternative scenarios regarding the origin of interface carriers and their interaction with an intense photon beam.

By a combination of optical second harmonic generation and transport measurements, we have investigated interfaces formed by either crystalline or amorphous thin films of LaAlO3 grown on TiO2-terminated SrTiO3(001) substrates. Our approach aims at disentangling the relative role of intrinsic and extrinsic doping mechanisms in the formation of the two-dimensional electron gas. The different nature of the two mechanisms is revealed when comparing the sample response variation as a function of temperature during annealing in air. However, before the thermal treatment, the two types of interfaces show almost the same intensity of the second harmonic signal, provided the overlayer thickness is the same. As we will show, the second harmonic signal is proportional to the depth of the potential well confining the charges at the interface. Therefore, our result demonstrates that this depth is about the same for the two different material systems. This conclusion supports the idea that the electronic properties of the two-dimensional electron gas are almost independent of the doping mechanism of the quantum well.

LaAlO$_{3}$ and NdGaO$_{3}$ thin films of different thickness have been grown by pulsed laser deposition on TiO$_2$-terminated SrTiO$_{3}$ single crystals and investigated by soft X-ray photoemission spectroscopy. The surface sensitivity of the measurements has been tuned by varying photon energy $h\nu$ and emission angle $\Theta$. In contrast to the core levels of the other elements, the Sr $3d$ line shows an unexpected splitting for higher surface sensitivity, signaling the presence of a second strontium component. From our quantitative analysis we conclude that during the growth process Sr atoms diffuse away from the substrate and segregate at the surface of the heterostructure, possibly forming strontium oxide.

The fabrication of oxide electronics devices is presently hindered by the lack of standardized and well established patterning procedures, applicable down to the nanoscale. In this work, the authors propose a procedure to obtain patterns with resolution around 100 nm on (La,Sr)MnO3/LaAlO3/SrTiO3 heterostructures. Our method is based on a multistep technique, which includes wet and dry etching, epitaxial masking, and e-beam lithography. Our procedure is devised to define independent patterns on the interfacial two dimensional electron gas and on the metallic top electrode, while preserving an all-in situ approach for the heterostructure growth. The authors show results on nano-scale devices based on (La,Sr)MnO3/LaAlO3/SrTiO3, suitable for oxide spintronics applications.

We studied the waveguiding properties of a photonic quasicrystal based on an octagonal tiling. The structure exhibits intrinsic localisation in the band gap region, that can be exploited to manipulate the signal transmission through a linear defect. The electromagnetic characteristics are first numerically analysed using a full wave simulation and then experimentally verified by measurements carried out in the X-band microwave region. Possible photonic applications include tunable notch filters having large attenuation.

Formation and development of the photonic band gap in two-dimensional 8-, 10-, and 12-fold symmetry quasicrystalline lattices of low-index contrast are reported. Finite-size structures made of dielectric cylindrical rods are studied and measured in the microwave region, and their properties are compared with a conventional hexagonal crystal. Band-gap characteristics are investigated by changing the direction of propagation of the incident beam inside the crystal. Various angles of incidence are used to investigate the isotropic nature of the band gap.

Recent numerical studies have demonstrated the possibility of achieving substantial enhancements in the transmission of transverse-electric-polarized electromagnetic fields through subwavelength slits in a thin metallic screen by placing single or paired metallic cut-wire arrays at a close distance from the screen. In this Letter, we report on the first experimental evidence of such extraordinary transmission phenomena, via microwave (X/Ku-band) measurements on printed-circuit-board prototypes. Experimental results agree very well with full-wave numerical predictions, and indicate an intrinsic robustness of the enhanced transmission phenomena with respect to fabrication tolerances and experimental imperfections., Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures (slight revision)

It has recently been shown that the transmission of electromagnetic fields through sub-wavelength slits (parallel to the electric field direction) in a thin metallic screen can be greatly enhanced by covering one side of the screen with a metallic cut-wire array laid on a dielectric layer. In this Letter, we show that a richer phenomenology (which involves both electric- and magnetic-type resonances) can be attained by pairing a second cut-wire array at the other side of the screen. Via a full-wave comprehensive parametric study, we illustrate the underlying mechanisms and explore the additional degrees of freedom endowed, as well as their possible implications in the engineering of enhanced transmission phenomena., 4 pages, 8 figures; slight corrections in Figs. 1, 2, and 8

We numerically analyze, using Finite Difference Time Domain simulations, the bandgap properties of photonic quasicrystals with a low index contrast. We compared 8-, 10- and 12-fold symmetry aperiodically ordered lattices with different spatial tiling. Our results show that tiling design, more than symmetry, determines the transmission properties of these structures., Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures. To be published in Microwave and Optical Technologies Letters

We present the key results from a comprehensive study of the refraction and focusing properties of a two-dimensional dodecagonal photonic ``quasicrystal'' (PQC), carried out via both full-wave numerical simulations and microwave measurements on a slab made of alumina rods inserted in a parallel-plate waveguide. We observe anomalous refraction and focusing in several frequency regions, confirming some recently published results. However, our interpretation, based on numerical and experimental evidence, differs substantially from the one in terms of ``effective negative refractive-index'' that was originally proposed. Instead, our study highlights the critical role played by short-range interactions associated with local order and symmetry., Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures, accepted on Physical Review B as Brief Report

We present the experimental observation of the superlensing effect in a slab of a one-dimensional photonic crystal made of tilted dielectric elements. We show that this flat lens can achieve subwavelength resolution in different frequency bands. We also demonstrate that the introduction of a proper corrugation on the lens surface can dramatically improve both the transmission and the resolution of the imaged signal., 9 pages, 9 figures