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The emerging all-van der Waals (vdW) magnetic heterostructure provides a new platform to control the magnetization by the electric field beyond the traditional spintronics devices. One promising strategy is using unconventional spin-orbit torque (SOT) exerted by the out-of-plane polarized spin current to enable deterministic magnetization switching and enhance the switching efficiency. However, in all-vdW heterostructures, large unconventional SOT remains elusive and the robustness of the field-free switching against external magnetic field hasn't been examined, which hinder further applications. Here we demonstrate the field-free switching in an all-vdW heterostructure combining a type-II Weyl semimetal TaIrTe4 and above-room-temperature ferromagnet Fe3GaTe2. The fully field-free switching can be achieved at 2.56 x 10^10 A per m2 at 300K and a large SOT effective field efficiency of the out-of-plane polarized spin current generated by TaIrTe4 is determined to be 0.37. Moreover, we find that the switching polarity cannot be changed until the external in-plane magnetic field reaches 252mT, indicating a robust switching against the magnetic field. The numerical simulation suggests the large unconventional SOT reduces the switching current density and enhances the robustness of the switching. Our work shows that all-vdW heterostructures are promising candidates for future highly efficient and stable SOT-based devices., Comment: 15 pages, 4 figures, accepted by Advanced Materials

Combining high-throughput first-principles calculations and experimental measurements, we have identified a novel family of fast lithium-ion chalcogenide conductors in Li$_2$BMQ$_4$ (2114, B = Ca, Sr and Ba; M = Si, Ge and Sn; Q = O, S and Se) systems. Our calculations demonstrate that most of the thermodynamically and kinetically stable sulfides and selenides in this new system exhibit ultralow Li$^+$ ion migration activation energy (0.16 eV ~ 0.56 eV) and considerable bandgaps varying between ~ 2 eV and 3.5 eV. We have successfully synthesized Li$_2$BaSnS$_4$ and Li$_2$SrSiS$_4$, and they exhibit excellent moisture stability through H$_2$S gas measurements. Electrochemical impedance measurements indicate 2114 systems show the typical features of solid ionic conductors, with a room-temperature Li$^+$ conductivity close to 5$\times$10$^{-4}$ mS/cm aligning with our molecular dynamics simulations. Furthermore, we have theoretically investigated the substitution of Cl$^-$ at S$^{2-}$ site. The doped compounds display significantly higher conductivity, with an increase of about three orders of magnitude (up to a maximum of 0.72 mS/cm) compared to the undoped compounds. These findings offer valuable insights for the further exploration of potential chalcogenide solid electrolyte materials with robust air stability and enhanced ionic conductivity for practical applications in lithium-ion batteries.

In this study, ultrafast optical spectroscopy was employed to elucidate the intricate topological features of EuIn$_2$As$_2$, a promising candidate for a magnetic topological-crystalline axion insulator. Our investigation, focusing on the real-time evolution of topological states, unveiled a narrow surface magnetic gap (2$\Delta_0$ $\simeq$ 8.2 meV)) emerging at the antiferromagnetic transition temperature ($T_N$ $\approx$ 16 K). Below $T_N$, two extremely low-energy collective modes, $\omega_1$ and $\omega_2$, with frequencies of $\sim$9.9 and 21.6 GHz at $T$ = 4 K, respectively, were observed, exhibiting strong temperature dependence. $\omega_1$ correlates with an acoustic phonon, while $\omega_2$ is associated with a magnon. The results suggest that EuIn$_2$As$_2$ has the potential to manifest a magnetic topological-crystalline axion insulator, presenting a small magnetic energy gap on the (001) surface. The findings further our understanding of the interplay between magnetism and topology in this material, showcasing its potential for applications in quantum information processing and spintronics., Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures

Muon radiography is an innovative and non-destructive technique for internal density structure imaging, based on measuring the attenuation of cosmic-ray muons after they penetrate the target. Due to the strong penetration ability of muons, the detection range of muon radiography can reach the order of hundreds of meters or even kilometers. Using a portable muon detector composed of plastic scintillators and silicon photomultipliers, we performed a short-duration(1h) flux scanning experiment of the overburden above the platform and tunnel of the Xiaoying West Road subway station under construction. With the observation direction facing up, the detector is placed on the north side of the track and moved eastward from the platform section inside the station to the tunnel section. The scanning length is 264m and a total of 21 locations are observed. By comparing the observed and predicted values of the muon survival ratio at different locations, the experiment accurately detects the jump in thickness at the interface of the platform section and tunnel section. Furthermore, unknown anomalies caused by random placed light brick piles and side passage mouth above the observation locations are detected and confirmed later. This experiment verifies the feasibility of using natural muons to quickly detect abnormal structures of the overburden of tunnel, and shows that muon radiography has broad application prospects in tunnel safety and other similar aspects., Comment: 30 pages, 10 figures

Geoneutrinos serve as a potent tool for comprehending the radiogenic power and composition of Earth. Although geoneutrinos have been observed in prior experiments, the forthcoming generation of experiments,such as JUNO, will be necessary for fully harnessing their potential. Precise prediction of the crustal contribution is vital for interpreting particlephysics measurements in the context of geo-scientific inquiries. Nonetheless, existing models such as JULOC and GIGJ have limitations in accurately forecasting the crustal contribution. This paper introduces JULOCI, the novel 3-D integrated crustal model of JUNO, which employs seismic, gravity, rock sample, and heat flow data to precisely estimate the geoneutrino signal of the lithosphere. The model indicates elevated concentrations of uranium and thorium in southern China, resulting in unexpectedly strong geoneutrino signals.The accuracy of JULOC-I, coupled with a decade of experimental data, affords JUNO the opportunity to test multiple mantle models. Once operational, JUNO can validate the model predictions and enhance the precision of mantle measurements. All in all, the improved accuracy ofJULOC-I represents a substantial stride towards comprehending the geochemical distribution of the South China crust, offering a valuable tool for investigating the composition and evolution of the Earth through geoneutrinos., Comment: Substantial updates on the model and predictions, submitted version

Tip enhanced IR spectra and imaging have been widely used in cutting-edge studies for the in-depth understanding of the composition, structure and function of interfaces at the nanoscale. However, molecular monolayer sensitivity has only been demonstrated on solid/gas interfaces. In aqueous environment, the reduced sensitivity due to strong damping of the cantilever oscillation and background IR absorption extremely limits the practical applications of tip enhanced IR nanospectroscopy. Here, we demonstrate hypersensitive nanoscale IR spectra and imaging in aqueous environment with the combination of photoinduced force (PiF) microscopy and resonant antennas. The highly confined electromagnetic field inbetween the tip end and antenna extremely amplifies the photoinduced force to the detectable level, while the excitation via plasmon internal reflection mode minimizes the environmental absorption. A polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) layer (~1-2 nm thickness) functionalized on the AFM tip has been successfully identified in water with antennas of different sizes. Sampling volume of ~604 chemical bonds from PDMS was demonstrated with sub-10 nm spatial resolution confirmed by electric (E) field distribution mapping on antennas, which strongly suggests the desired requirements for interfacial spectroscopy. This platform demonstrates for the first time the application of photoinduced force microscopy in aqueous environments, providing a brand-new configuration to achieve highly enhanced nanoscale IR signals, which is extremely promising for future research of interfaces and nanosystems in aqueous environments.