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05:47
Preparation of Polyoxometalate-based Photo-responsive Membranes for the Photo-activation of Manganese Oxide Catalysts
Published on: August 7, 2018
Transient photoinduced 'hidden' phase in a manganite
Hirohiko Ichikawa1, Shunsuke Nozawa, Tokushi Sato
1JST, ERATO, Tsukuba 305-0801, Japan.
Nature Materials
|January 18, 2011
Summary
Researchers explored photoinduced phase transitions in Nd(0.5)Sr(0.5)MnO(3) thin films. They discovered a novel, metastable
Area of Science:
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Materials Science
- Ultrafast Phenomena
Background:
- Photoinduced phase transitions offer ultrafast control over material properties.
- Cooperative interactions enable novel switching of electronic, magnetic, and structural properties.
- High-energy photons access non-equilibrium electronic states.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the photoinduced structural changes in Nd(0.5)Sr(0.5)MnO(3) thin films.
- To characterize the electronic and structural properties of the photoinduced state.
- To understand the role of cooperative interactions in photo-generation.
Main Methods:
- Picosecond time-resolved X-ray diffraction to probe lattice structure.
- Femtosecond time-resolved spectroscopy to study electronic gap formation.
- Analysis of photoinduced state properties including order, homogeneity, and metastability.
Main Results:
- Observed a photoinduced, structurally ordered, homogeneous, and metastable state.
- Identified crystallographic parameters distinct from thermodynamically accessible states.
- Confirmed the formation of an electronic gap in the photoinduced state.
Conclusions:
- The photoinduced state exhibits unique crystallographic and electronic properties.
- Threshold-like behavior and high efficiency suggest cooperative interactions are crucial.
- These findings indicate a 'hidden insulating phase' beyond the known phase diagram.
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