Ab-Initio Study of Magnetically Intercalated Platinum Diselenide: The Impact of Platinum Vacancies

We study the magnetic properties of platinum diselenide (PtSe2) intercalated with Ti, V, Cr, and Mn, using first-principle density functional theory (DFT) calculations and Monte Carlo (MC) simulations. First, we present the equilibrium position of intercalants in PtSe2 obtained from the DFT calculations. Next, we present the magnetic groundstates for each of the intercalants in PtSe2 along with their critical temperature. We show that Ti intercalants result in an in-plane AFM and out-of-plane FM groundstate, whereas Mn intercalant results in in-plane FM and out-of-plane AFM. V intercalants result in an FM groundstate both in the in-plane and the out-of-plane direction, whereas Cr results in an AFM groundstate both in the in-plane and the out-of-plane direction. We find a critical temperature of <0.01 K, 111 K, 133 K, and 68 K for Ti, V, Cr, and Mn intercalants at a 7.5% intercalation, respectively. In the presence of Pt vacancies, we obtain critical temperatures of 63 K, 32 K, 221 K, and 45 K for Ti, V, Cr, and Mn-intercalated PtSe2, respectively. We show that Pt vacancies can change the magnetic groundstate as well as the critical temperature of intercalated PtSe2, suggesting that the magnetic groundstate in intercalated PtSe2 can be controlled via defect engineering.

First-Principles Density Functional Theory Calculations of Bilayer Membranes Heterostructures of Ti3C2T2 (MXene)/Graphene and AgNPs

The properties of two-dimensional (2D) layered membrane systems can be medullated by the stacking arrangement and the heterostructure composition of the membrane. This largely affects the performance and stability of such membranes. Here, we have used first-principle density functional theory calculations to conduct a comparative study of two heterostructural bilayer systems of the 2D-MXene (Ti3C2T2, T = F, O, and OH) sheets with graphene and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). For all considered surface terminations, the binding energy of the MXene/graphene and MXene/AgNPs bilayers increases as compared with graphene/graphene and MXene/MXene bilayer structures. Such strong interlayer interactions are due to profound variations of electrostatic potential across the layers. Larger interlayer binding energies in MXene/graphene systems were obtained even in the presence of water molecules, indicating enhanced stability of such a hybrid system against delamination. We also studied the structural properties of Ti3C2X2 MXene (X = F, O and OH) decorated with silver nanoclusters Agn (n ≤ 6). We found that regardless of surface functionalization, Ag nanoclusters were strongly adsorbed on the surface of MXene. In addition, Ag nanoparticles enhanced the binding energy between MXene layers. These findings can be useful in enhancing the structural properties of MXene membranes for water purification applications.

Anisotropic optical response of gold-silver alloys

Gold and silver alloys enable novel opportunities for engineering materials with distinct optical responses. Here we investigate the optical properties of gold and silver (Ag x Au 1−x) structures using First-Principle Density Functional Theory (DFT) for gold concentrations varying from 0% up to 100% with steps of 25%. Results of the optical permittivity are analyzed with the independent particle approximation and compared with previously reported theoretical and experimental works. The pure systems and the ones with unbalanced concentrations exhibit isotropic optical responses. The Ag 0.50 Au 0.50 shows an anisotropic response among the y-direction and the xz-direction, mainly in the intraband transition energy range. The anisotropy is elucidated in terms of the d-orbitals density of states and the charge distribution with the structure. The anisotropic optical response can be the origin of the discrepancies among reported experimental results for structures with the same stoichiometry.

Theoretical Study on the Lewis Acidity of the Pristine AlF3 and Cl-Doped α-AlF3 Surfaces

In the past two decades, metal fluorides have gained importance in the field of heterogenous catalysis of bond activation reaction, e.g., hydrofluorination. One of the most investigated metal fluorides is AlF3. Together with its chlorine-doped analogon aluminiumchlorofluoride (AlClxF3−x, x = 0.05–0.3; abbreviated ACF), it has attracted much attention due to its application in catalysis. Various surface models for α-AlF3 and their chlorinated analogues (as representatives of amorphous ACF) are investigated with respect to their Lewis acidity of the active centres. First-principle density functional theory (DFT) methods with dispersion correction are used to determine the adsorption structure and energy of the probe molecules CO and NH3. The corresponding vibrational frequency shift agrees well with the measured values. With this insight we predict the local structure of the active sites and can clarify the importance of secondary interactions to the local anionic surrounding of the catalytic site.

Boron-Decorated Pillared Graphene as the Basic Element for Supercapacitors: An Ab Initio Study

In this work, using the first-principle density functional theory (DFT) method, we study the properties of a new material based on pillared graphene and the icosahedral clusters of boron B12 as a supercapacitor electrode material. The new composite material demonstrates a high specific quantum capacitance, specific charge density, and a negative value of heat of formation, which indicates its efficiency. It is shown that the density of electronic states increases during the addition of clusters, which predictably leads to an increase in the electrode conductivity. We predict that the use of a composite based on pillared graphene and boron will increase the efficiency of existing supercapacitors.

Substrate induced electronic phase transitions of CrI$$_{3}$$ based van der Waals heterostructures

We perform first principle density functional theory calculations to predict the substrate induced electronic phase transitions of CrI$$_{3}$$ 3 based 2-D heterostructures. We adsorb graphene and MoS$$_{2}$$ 2 on novel 2-D ferromagnetic semiconductor—CrI$$_{3}$$ 3 and investigate the electronic and magnetic properties of these heterostructures with and without spin orbit coupling (SOC). We find that when strained MoS$$_{2}$$ 2 is adsorbed on CrI$$_{3}$$ 3 , the spin dependent band gap which is a characteristic of CrI$$_{3}$$ 3 , ceases to remain. The bandgap of the heterostructure reduces drastically ($$\sim$$ ∼ 70%) and the heterostructure shows an indirect, spin-independent bandgap of $$\sim$$ ∼ 0.5 eV. The heterostructure remains magnetic (with and without SOC) with the magnetic moment localized primarily on CrI$$_{3}$$ 3 . Adsorption of graphene on CrI$$_{3}$$ 3 induces an electronic phase transition of the subsequent heterostructure to a ferromagnetic metal in both the spin configurations with magnetic moment localized on CrI$$_{3}$$ 3 . The SOC induced interaction opens a bandgap of $$\sim$$ ∼ 30 meV in the Dirac cone of graphene, which allows us to visualize Chern insulating states without reducing van der Waals gap.

Bifunctional Electrocatalyst for Oxygen Reduction and Oxygen Evolution: Theoretical Study on 2D Metallic WO2-supported Single Atom (Fe, Co, Ni) Catalysts

Catalysts play a critical role in oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) for energy storage, conversion, and utilization. Herein, first-principle density functional theory (DFT) calculations demonstrated that...

Lithium Polysulfide Interaction with Group III Atoms-Doped Graphene: A Computational Insight

The development of long lifetime Li–S batteries requires new sulfur–carbon based composite materials that are able to suppress the shuttle effect—namely, the migration of soluble lithium polysulfides from the cathode to the anode of the cell. Graphene is one of the most promising carbon supports for sulfur, thanks to its excellent conductivity and to the possibility of tailoring its chemical–physical properties, introducing heteroatoms in its structure. By using first principle density functional theory simulations, this work aims at studying the effect of doping graphene with group III elements (B, Al, Ga) on its electronic properties and on its chemical affinity towards lithium polysulfides. Our results show that Al and Ga doping strongly modify the local structure of the lattice near heteroatom site and generate a charge transfer between the dopant and its nearest neighbor carbon atoms. This effect makes the substrate more polar and greatly enhances the adsorption energy of polysulfides. Our results suggest that Al- and Ga-doped graphene could be used to prepare cathodes for Li–S cells with improved performances and lifetime.

Ab Initio Study of Ferroelectric Critical Size of SnTe Low-Dimensional Nanostructures

Beyond a ferroelectric critical thickness of several nanometers existed in conventional ferroelectric perovskite oxides, ferroelectricity in ultimately thin dimensions was recently discovered in SnTe monolayers. This discovery suggests the possibility that SnTe can sustain ferroelectricity during further low-dimensional miniaturization. Here, we investigate a ferroelectric critical size of low-dimensional SnTe nanostructures such as nanoribbons (1D) and nanoflakes (0D) using first-principle density-functional theory calculations. We demonstrate that the smallest (one-unit-cell width) SnTe nanoribbon can sustain ferroelectricity and there is no ferroelectric critical size in the SnTe nanoribbons. On the other hand, the SnTe nanoflakes form a vortex of polarization and lose their toroidal ferroelectricity below the surface area of 4 × 4 unit cells (about 25 Å on one side). We also reveal the atomic and electronic mechanism of the absence or presence of critical size in SnTe low-dimensional nanostructures. Our result provides an insight into intrinsic ferroelectric critical size for low-dimensional chalcogenide layered materials.