In the heart of China, at the Wuhan National High Magnetic Field Center and School of Physics of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, a team of researchers led by Dr. Xiaobo He has uncovered a series of unconventional Hall effects in a single compound, Ce3TiSb5. This discovery, published in the journal Communications Materials (translated as “Materials Communications”), could potentially reshape our understanding of the interplay between electronic correlation, geometric frustration, and topology, with significant implications for the energy sector.
The Hall effect, a phenomenon where a voltage difference (Hall voltage) is created across an electrical conductor when a magnetic field is applied perpendicular to the current flow, is a well-known concept in physics. However, the unconventional Hall effects observed in Ce3TiSb5 are far from ordinary. “We found a large topological Hall effect at low temperatures, which we believe is due to the non-collinear magnetic texture,” explains Dr. He. This effect, exceeding 0.2 μΩ⋅cm, is a significant finding that could open up new avenues for research and application.
The team also observed a peculiar loop-shaped Hall effect with switching chirality, a phenomenon that Dr. He attributes to magnetic domain walls that pin history-dependent spin chirality and/or Fermi-arc surface states projected from the in-gap Weyl nodes. These findings place Ce3TiSb5 in a regime of highly-frustrated antiferromagnetic dense Kondo lattice with a nontrivial topology on an “extended” global phase diagram.
The potential commercial impacts of this research are substantial. The energy sector, in particular, could benefit from these findings. The unconventional Hall effects observed in Ce3TiSb5 could lead to the development of more efficient and effective energy storage and conversion devices. For instance, the large topological Hall effect could be harnessed to create more efficient magnetic storage devices, while the loop-shaped Hall effect could be used to develop novel types of magnetic sensors.
Moreover, the interplay between electronic correlation, geometric frustration, and topology observed in Ce3TiSb5 could pave the way for the development of new materials with unique properties. These materials could be used to create more efficient and sustainable energy solutions, contributing to the global effort to combat climate change.
Dr. He’s research is a testament to the power of fundamental science in driving technological innovation. As we continue to explore the intricate dance between electronic correlation, geometric frustration, and topology, we may unlock new possibilities for the energy sector and beyond. The journey has just begun, and the future looks promising.