Transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) monolayers MXY (M = Mo, W; X  Y = S, Se, Te) are two-dimensional polar semiconductors. Setting WSeTe monolayer as an example and using density functional theory calculations, we investigate the manipulation of Rashba spin orbit coupling (SOC) in the MXY monolayer. It is found that the intrinsic out-of-plane electric field due to the mirror symmetry breaking induces the large Rashba spin splitting around the  point, which, however, can be easily tuned by applying the in-plane biaxial strain. Through a relatively small strain (from -2% to 2%), a large tunability (from around -50% to 50%) of Rashba SOC can be obtained due to the modified orbital overlap, which can in turn modulate the intrinsic electric field. The orbital selective external potential method further confirms the significance of the orbital overlap between W-2 z d and Sez p in Rashba SOC. In addition, we also explore the influence of the external electric field on Rashba SOC in the WSeTe monolayer, which is less effective than strain. The large Rashba spin splitting, together with the valley spin splitting in MXY monolayers may make a special contribution to semiconductor spintronics and valleytronics.

Photothermal therapy (PTT) has been widely applied in cancer therapy as a result of its non-invasive, localized treatment and good therapeutic effect. In general, the final therapeutic effect of PTT...

The importance of sheep’s wool in making textiles has inspired extensive research into its structure and the underlying genetics since the 1960s. Wool keratin-associated proteins (KAPs) are a key structural component of the wool fibre. The characterisation of the genes encoding these proteins has progressed rapidly with advances in the nucleotide and protein sequencing. This review describes our knowledge of ovine KAPs, their categorisation into families, polymorphism in the proteins and genes, the clustering and chromosomal location of the genes, some characteristics of gene expression and some potential effects of the KAPs on wool traits. The extent and nature of genetic variation in wool KAP genes and its association with fibre characteristics, provides an opportunity for the development of gene-markers for selective breeding of sheep to produce better wool with properties highly matched to specific end-uses.

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