Análisis a escala atómica de interfases magnéticas con aplicaciones en espintrónica

Atomic scale analysis of magnetic interfases with spintronics applications

Rocio González Díaz (2023, [Tesis de maestría])

La espintrónica es un área de la nanociencia que tiene por cometido el estudio y manipulación del espín de los electrones para el desarrollo y mejoramiento de dispositivos electrónicos. De manera particular, se ha orientado a la búsqueda de materiales para la fabricación de memorias magnéticas de acceso aleatorio (MRAM), diseñadas a partir de uniones túnel magnéticas (MTJ). Dichas uniones son heteroestructuras construidas a partir de un material aislante en cuya capa superior e inferior se dispone un compuesto ferromagnético. Una de las características de estos dispositivos es que presentan una anisotropía magnética perpendicular (PMA) y un efecto de torque por transferencia de espín (STT). Recientemente, un estudio experimental señala que la heteroestructura B2-CoAl/L10-MnAl es un candidato idóneo para la fabricación de MRAM, pues presenta PMA y STT. Sin embargo, en el trabajo experimental no se reporta un análisis de la estabilidad termodinámica de la heteroestructura. Dicho lo anterior, en este trabajo se hizo un estudio de la estabilidad termodinámica y estructural de B2-CoAl/L10-MnAl usando la teoría del funcional de la densidad (DFT). Se propusieron diferentes modelos de interfaz CoAl/MnAl y se determinó a través de un análisis energético cuál es la interfaz más estable. Los resultados obtenidos indican que la interfaz más estable sucede entre la última capa de Al del CoAl y la primera capa de Mn del MnAl. Además, se comprobó un efecto PMA en la heteroestructura B2-CoAl/L10-MnAl y se determinó que este comportamiento se origina esencialmente debido a la naturaleza ferromagnética de MnAl, pues CoAl no presenta características ferromagnéticas.

Spintronics is nanoscience area whose aim is the study and manipulation of electrons spin to development and improvement of electronic devices. In a particular way, the spintronics has focused to search of new materials to fabrication of magnetic random-access memory (MRAM), which are designed from devices call magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJ). This devices are heterostructures built from an insulating material with a ferromagnetic compound on top and bottom layers and characterized by the perpendicular magnetic anisotropy and spin-transfer torque (STT) effects prensent on it. Recently, an experimental study indicates the B2-CoAl/L10-MnAl heterostructure is a suitable candidate for the fabrication of MRAM based on MTJ devices. Nevertheless, the thermodynamic stability of the heteroestructure is not reported in the experimental work. Therefore, in this work a study of the thermodynamic and structural stability of B2-CoAl/L10-MnAl was performed using density functional theory (DFT). Different CoAl/MnAl interface models were proposed and the most stable interface was determined by an energy analysis. The results obtained, indicate that the most stable interface occurs between the last Al layer of CoAl and the first Mn layer of MnAl. In addition, a PMA effect in the B2-CoAl/L10-MnAl heterostructure was demonstrated and it was determined that this behaviour is essentially due to the ferromagnetic nature of MnAl, since CoAl does not present ferromagnetic characteristics.

simulaciones computacionales, interfases magnéticas, estabilidad termodinámica computational simulation, magnetic interfaces, termodinamic stability INGENIERÍA Y TECNOLOGÍA CIENCIAS TECNOLÓGICAS TECNOLOGÍA DE MATERIALES PROPIEDADES DE LOS MATERIALES PROPIEDADES DE LOS MATERIALES

The impact of 1.5 °C and 2.0 °C global warming on global maize production and trade

Wei Xiong Tariq Ali (2022, [Artículo])

Future Climate Scenario Data Yield Reduction Risk CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA CLIMATE CHANGE GREENHOUSE EFFECT MAIZE MITIGATION SIMULATION ACCLIMATIZATION ADAPTATION GLOBAL WARMING

Genome-wide association analyses of agronomic traits and Striga hermonthica resistance in pearl millet

Hussein Shimelis Chris Ojiewo Abhishek Rathore (2023, [Artículo])

Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum [L.] R. Br.) is a nutrient-dense, relatively drought-tolerant cereal crop cultivated in dry regions worldwide. The crop is under-researched, and its grain yield is low (< 0.8 tons ha−1) and stagnant in the major production regions, including Burkina Faso. The low productivity of pearl millet is mainly attributable to a lack of improved varieties, Striga hermonthica [Sh] infestation, downy mildew infection, and recurrent heat and drought stress. Developing high-yielding and Striga-resistant pearl millet varieties that satisfy the farmers’ and market needs requires the identification of yield-promoting genes linked to economic traits to facilitate marker-assisted selection and gene pyramiding. The objective of this study was to undertake genome-wide association analyses of agronomic traits and Sh resistance among 150 pearl millet genotypes to identify genetic markers for marker-assisted breeding and trait introgression. The pearl millet genotypes were phenotyped in Sh hotspot fields and screen house conditions. Twenty-nine million single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) initially generated from 345 pearl millet genotypes were filtered, and 256 K SNPs were selected and used in the present study. Phenotypic data were collected on days to flowering, plant height, number of tillers, panicle length, panicle weight, thousand-grain weight, grain weight, number of emerged Striga and area under the Striga number progress curve (ASNPC). Agronomic and Sh parameters were subjected to combined analysis of variance, while genome-wide association analysis was performed on phenotypic and SNPs data. Significant differences (P < 0.001) were detected among the assessed pearl millet genotypes for Sh parameters and agronomic traits. Further, there were significant genotype by Sh interaction for the number of Sh and ASNPC. Twenty-eight SNPs were significantly associated with a low number of emerged Sh located on chromosomes 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 7. Four SNPs were associated with days-to-50%-flowering on chromosomes 3, 5, 6, and 7, while five were associated with panicle length on chromosomes 2, 3, and 4. Seven SNPs were linked to thousand-grain weight on chromosomes 2, 3, and 6. The putative SNP markers associated with a low number of emerged Sh and agronomic traits in the assessed genotypes are valuable genomic resources for accelerated breeding and variety deployment of pearl millet with Sh resistance and farmer- and market-preferred agronomic traits.

High-Yielding Varieties Striga-Resistant Agronomic Parameters CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA GENOME-WIDE ASSOCIATION STUDIES STRIGA HERMONTHICA PEARL MILLET