Atomically resolved probe-type scanning tunnelling microscope for use in harsh vibrational cryogen-free superconducting magnet.

We present a probe-type scanning tunnelling microscope (STM) with atomic resolution that is designed to be directly inserted and work in a harsh vibrational cryogen-free superconducting magnet system. When a commercial variable temperature insert (VTI) is installed in the magnet and the STM is housed in the VTI, a lowest temperature of 1.6 K can be achieved, at which the STM still operates well. We tested the STM in an 8 T superconducting magnet cooled with a pulse-tube cryocooler and obtained atomically resolved graphite and NbSe2 images as well as the scanning tunnelling spectrum (i.e., dI/dV spectrum) data of the latter near its critical temperature, which show the formation process of the superconducting gap as a function of temperature. The drifting rates of the STM at 1.6 K in the X-Y plane and Z direction are 1.15 and 1.71 pm/min, respectively. Noise analysis for the tunnelling current shows that the amplitudes of the dominant peaks (6.84 and 10.25 Hz) are as low as 1.5 pA.Hz-1/2 when we set the current to 0.5 nA and open the feedback loop. This is important as a cryogen-free magnet system has long been considered too harsh for any atomic resolution measurement.

Emergence of Tertiary Dirac Points in Graphene Moiré Superlattices.

The electronic structure of a crystalline solid is largely determined by its lattice structure. Recent advances in van der Waals solids, artificial crystals with controlled stacking of two-dimensional (2D) atomic films, have enabled the creation of materials with novel electronic structures. In particular, stacking graphene on hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) introduces a moiré superlattice that fundamentally modifies graphene's band structure and gives rise to secondary Dirac points (SDPs). Here we find that the formation of a moiré superlattice in graphene on hBN yields new, unexpected consequences: a set of tertiary Dirac points (TDPs) emerge, which give rise to additional sets of Landau levels when the sample is subjected to an external magnetic field. Our observations hint at the formation of a hidden Kekulé superstructure on top of the moiré superlattice under appropriate carrier doping and magnetic fields.

Passivation of surface states in the ZnO nanowire with thermally evaporated copper phthalocyanine for hybrid photodetectors.

The adsorption of O2/H2O molecules on the ZnO nanowire (NW) surface results in the long lifetime of photo-generated carriers and thus benefits ZnO NW-based ultraviolet photodetectors by suppressing the dark current and improving the photocurrent gain, but the slow adsorption process also leads to slow detector response time. Here we show that a thermally evaporated copper phthalocyanine film is effective in passivating surface trap states of ZnO NWs. As a result, the organic/inorganic hybrid photodetector devices exhibit simultaneously improved photosensitivity and response time. This work suggests that it could be an effective way in interfacial passivation using organic/inorganic hybrid structures.