Computational Prediction of a Novel Superhard SP~3 Trigonal Carbon Allotrope with Bandgap Larger than Diamond

Searching for new carbon allotropes with superior properties has been a longstanding interest in material sciences and condensed matter physics.Here we identify a novel superhard carbon phase with an 18-atom trigonal unit cell in a full-sp~3 bonding network,termed tri-C_(18) carbon,by first-principles calculations.Its structural stability has been verified by total energy,phonon spectra,elastic constants,and molecular dynamics simulations.Furthermore,tri-C_(18) carbon has a high bulk modulus of 400 GPa and Vickers hardness of 79.0 GPa,comparable to those of diamond.Meanwhile,the simulated x-ray diffraction pattern of tri-C_(18) carbon matches well with the previously unexplained diffraction peaks found in chimney soot,indicating the possible presence of tri-C_(18)carbon.Remarkably,electronic band structure calculations reveal that tri-C_(18) carbon has a wide indirect bandgap of 6.32 eV,larger than that of cubic diamond,indicating its great potential in electronic or optoelectronic devices working in the deep ultraviolet region.     

Structural transformations of the cumulene form of amorphous carbyne at high pressure

Structural transformations of the cumulene form of amorphous carbyne which are induced by heating at high pressure (7.7 GPa) are investigated. These can be described by the sequence amorphous phase — crystal — amorphous phase — disordered graphite. Raman scattering shows that predominately the chain structure of carbyne remains at the first three stages. It was found that the intermediate crystalline phase is an unknown modification of carbon whose structure is identified as cubic (a=3.145 Å). A mechanism of structural transformations in carbyne that involves the formation of new covalent bonds between chains is discussed. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 66, No. 4, 237–242 (25 August 1997)     

Superhard F-carbon predicted by ab initio particle-swarm optimization methodology

A simple (5 + 6 + 7)-sp(3) carbon (denoted as F-carbon) with eight atoms per unit cell predicted by a newly developed ab initio particle-swarm optimization methodology on crystal structure prediction is proposed. F-carbon can be seen as the reconstruction of AA-stacked or 3R-graphite, and is energetically more stable than 2H-graphite beyond 13.9 GPa. Band structure and hardness calculations indicate that F-carbon is a transparent superhard carbon with a gap of 4.55 eV at 15 GPa and a hardness of 93.9 GPa at zero pressure. Compared with the previously proposed Bct-, M- and W-carbons, the simulative x-ray diffraction pattern of F-carbon also well matches the superhard intermediate phase of the experimentally cold-compressed graphite. The possible transition route and energy barrier were observed using the variable cell nudged elastic band method. Our simulations show that the cold compression of graphite can produce some reversible metastable carbons (e.g. M- and F-carbons) with energy barriers close to diamond or lonsdaleite.     

P212121-C16: An ultrawide bandgap and ultrahard carbon allotrope with the bandgap larger than diamond

Ultrawide bandgap semiconductor, e.g., diamond, is considered as the next generation of semiconductor. Here, a new orthorhombic carbon allotrope (P2₁2₁2₁-C16) with ultrawide bandgap and ultra-large hardness is identified. The stability of the newly designed carbon is confirmed by the energy, phonon spectrum, ab-initio molecular dynamics and elastic constants. The hardness ranges from 88 GPa to 93 GPa according to different models, which is comparable to diamond. The indirect bandgap reaches 6.23 eV, which is obviously larger than that of diamond, and makes it a promising ultra-wide bandgap semiconductor. Importantly, the experimental possibility is confirmed by comparing the simulated X-ray diffraction with experimental results, and two hypothetical transformation paths to synthesize it from graphite are proposed.     

The influence of hydrogen impurities on the atomic and electronic structures of carbyne crystals

An ab initio DFT study of atomic and electronic structure of carbyne crystals was carried out. The influence of hydrogen impurities on carbyne structure was investigated. Calculations with atomic relaxations showed that carbon chains in the carbyne crystal structure are bow-like curved; free-energy calculations showed that the most probable lengths of those chains are four and six atoms, which is in a good agreement with experiments. Carbyne-crystal electronic-structure analysis showed that there is a small gap of 0.09 eV near the Fermi level in four-atomic carbyne, while there is no such gap in six-atomic carbyne. In studying of the hydrogen impurity influence on the atomic and electronic structure of carbyne crystals, hydrogen atoms were embedded in two directions: across and along carbon chains in the crystal. As a result we found that the crystal structure is not distorted in the case of hydrogen embedded across the chains, while the type of bonding between carbon atoms in carbon chains in the carbyne crystal structure depended on the impurity concentration. The crystal structure was distorted when hydrogen was embedded along the chains. The concentration of impurities influences the conductivity of a carbyne crystal.     

Structural feature and electronic property of an (8, 0) carbon--silicon carbide nanotube heterojunction

A supercell of a nanotube heterojunction formed by an (8, 0) carbon nanotube (CNT) and an (8, 0) silicon carbide nanotube (SiCNT) is established, in which 96 C atoms and 32 Si atoms are included. The geometry optimization and the electronic property of the heterojunction are implemented through the first-principles calculation based on the density functional theory (DFT). The results indicate that the structural rearrangement takes place mainly on the interface and the energy gap of the heterojunction is 0.31eV, which is narrower than those of the isolated CNT and the isolated SiCNT. By using the average bond energy method, the valence band offset and the conduction band offset are obtained as 0.71 and --0.03eV, respectively.     

Li2C2中电声耦合及超导电性的第一性原理计算研究

通过第一性原理密度泛函和超导Eliashberg理论计算, 我们研究了Li₂C₂在Cmcm相的电子结构和电声耦合特性, 预言这种材料在常压和5GPa下是由电声耦合导致的转变温度分别为13.2 K 和9.8 K的超导体, 为实验上探索包含一维碳原子链的材料中是否可能存在超导电性、发现新的超导体提供了理论依据. 如果理论所预言的Li₂C₂超导电性得到实验的证实, 这将是锂碳化物中转变温度最高的超导体, 高于实验观测到的LiC₂的1.9 K和理论预言的单层LiC₆的8.1 K超导转变温度.     

Electronic structure of carbyne studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray emission spectroscopy

The electronic structure of amorphous carbyne has been investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray emission spectroscopy. Carbyne band structure has been calculated semiempirically and the experimental data have been interpreted on the basis of the calculation results. The valence band width was found to be about 20 eV which is the same as that in all other condensed carbon structures. The fine satellite structure near the 1s line of carbon has been studied. It is shown that the energy bands in carbyne are arranged in a mirror-like way relative to the Fermi level. The real carbyne structure is susceptible to conformations which affect primarily the π-subband structure.     

A new superhard carbon allotrope: Orthorhombic C20

A new superhard carbon orthorhombic allotrope oC20 is proposed, which exhibits distinct topologies including C4, C3 and two types of C6 carbon rings. The calculated elastic constants and phonon spectra reveal that oC20 is mechanically and dynamically stable at ambient pressure. The calculated electronic band structure of oC20 shows that it is an indirect band gap semiconductor with a band gap of 4.46 eV. The Vickers hardness of oC20 is 75 GPa. The calculated tensile and shear strength indicate that the weakest tensile strength is 64 GPa and the weakest shear strength is 48 GPa, which means oC20 is a potential superhard material.     

New superhard carbon phases between graphite and diamond

Two new carbon allotropes (H-carbon and S-carbon) are proposed, as possible candidates for the intermediate superhard phases between graphite and diamond obtained in the process of cold compressing graphite, based on the results of first-principles calculations. Both H-carbon and S-carbon are more stable than previously proposed M-carbon and W-carbon and their bulk modulus are comparable to that of diamond. H-carbon is an indirect-band-gap semiconductor with a gap of 4.459 eV and S-carbon is a direct-band-gap semiconductor with a gap of 4.343 eV. The transition pressure from cold compressing graphite is 10.08 GPa and 5.93 GPa for H-carbon and S-carbon, respectively, which is in consistent with the recent experimental report.     

High-pressure synthesis of a novel form of endohedral Li diamond from Li graphite intercalation compound

A novel form of hexagonal diamond containing Li atoms in the open rooms surrounded by sp³-bonded carbon atoms was successfully synthesized from a Li graphite intercalation compound under high pressure, as had been predicted by theoretical studies. High-pressure experiments with LiC₆ were performed in the pressure range from 0.1 MPa to 43 GPa using a diamond-anvil cell. In situ X-ray diffractometry and optical microscopy revealed that LiC₆ was transformed to a hexagonal-diamond form without losing Li atoms. The c-axis of the hexagonal-diamond form was considerably longer than that of the hexagonal diamond transformed from pure graphite, which was consistent with the predicted structure of the endohedral Li diamond. The observed high-pressure form exhibited a golden metallic gloss, which was also consistent with the calculated metallic band structure.     

Investigation and simulation of the structural and electronic properties of LiF:Mg,LiF:Cu,LiF:P nano-layer dosimeters

In this study, electronic structure of lithium fluoride thin films in pure state and doped with magnesium (Mg), copper (Cu) and phosphorus (P) impurities was studied using WIEN2K Code. The structural and electronic properties of two LiF thin films with 1.61 and 4.05?nm thicknesses were studied and compared. Results show that the distance of atoms in the surface and central layers of pure LiF are 1.975 and 2.03?nm, respectively. Electronic density of the valence band around the surface atoms is greater than that around middle atoms of the supercell. The band gap of bulk LiF is 9?eV. But, in the case of thin films, it is reduced to 2?eV. Electronic and hole-traps were not observed in composition of LiF thin films doped with Mg and P with 1.61 and 4.05?nm thickness and in fact, metallic properties were observed. When Cu atoms were doped in composition of an LiF thin film, the thin film was converted to semiconductor.     

T-carbon: a novel carbon allotrope

A structurally stable crystalline carbon allotrope is predicted by means of the first-principles calculations. This allotrope can be derived by substituting each atom in diamond with a carbon tetrahedron, and possesses the same space group Fd3m as diamond, which is thus coined as T-carbon. The calculations on geometrical, vibrational, and electronic properties reveal that T-carbon, with a considerable structural stability and a much lower density 1.50 g/cm3, is a semiconductor with a direct band gap about 3.0 eV, and has a Vickers hardness 61.1 GPa lower than diamond but comparable with cubic boron nitride. Such a form of carbon, once obtained, would have wide applications in photocatalysis, adsorption, hydrogen storage, and aerospace materials.     

One-dimensional sp carbon: Synthesis,properties, and modifications

Carbyne, as the truly one-dimensional carbon allotrope with sp-hybridization, has attracted significant interest in recent years, showing potential applications in next-generation molecular devices due to its ultimate one-atom thinness. Various excellent properties of carbyne have been predicted, however, free-standing carbyne sample is extremely unstable and the corresponding experimental researches and modifications are under-developed compared to other known carbon allotropes. The synthesis of carbyne has been slowly developed for the past decades. Recently, there have been several breakthroughs in in-situ synthesis and measurement of carbyne related materials, as well as the preparation of ultra-long carbon chains toward infinite carbyne. These progresses have aroused widespread discussion in the academic community. In this review, the latest approaches in the synthesis of sp carbon are summarized. We then discuss its extraordinary properties, including mechanical, electronic, magnetic, and optical properties, especially focusing on the regulations of these properties. Finally, we provide a perspective on the development of carbyne.     

Raman spectroscopy of isolated carbyne chains confined in carbon nanotubes: Progress and prospects

Carbyne is an infinitely long linear chain of carbon atoms with sp¹ hybridization and the truly one-dimensional allotrope of carbon. While obtaining freestanding carbyne is still an open challenge, the study of confined carbyne, linear chains of carbon encapsulated in carbon nanotubes, provides a pathway to explore carbyne and its remarkable properties in a well-defined environment. In this review, we discuss the basics and recent advances in studying single confined carbyne chains by Raman spectroscopy, which is their primary spectroscopic characterization method. We highlight where single carbyne chain studies are needed to advance our understanding of confined carbyne as a material system and provide an overview of the open questions that need to be addressed and of those aspects currently under debate.     

A new carbon allotrope with C28 cage: T-C64

A new tetragonal carbon allotrope (named T-C₆₄) is predicted by swarm structural searches combined with first principles calculation. It contains 64 carbon atoms in a Tetragonal unit cell with I4₁/amd symmetry and exhibits distinct topologies including C28 cages. This new carbon phase has an sp²-sp³ network with calculated hardness of 68.2 GPa. In order to examine the stability of T-C₆₄ under ambient pressure, we calculated the properties of elastic constant and phonon spectrum. In addition, by calculating the electronic properties of the crystal, it is concluded that T-C₆₄ is an indirect band gap semiconductor with a band gap of 2.23 eV.     

Investigation on the formation of lonsdaleite from graphite

Structural stability and the possible pathways to experimental formation of lonsdaleite—a hexagonal 2H polytype of diamond—have been studied in the framework of the density functional theory (DFT). It is established that the structural transformation of orthorhombic Cmmm graphite to 2H polytype of diamond must take place at a pressure of 61 GPa, while the formation of lonsdaleite from hexagonal P6/mmm graphite must take place at 56 GPa. The minimum potential barrier height separating the 2H polytype state from graphite is only 0.003 eV/atom smaller than that for the cubic diamond. The high potential barrier is indicative of the possibility of stable existence of the hexagonal diamond under normal conditions. In this work, we have also analyzed the X-ray diffraction and electron-microscopic data available for nanodiamonds found in meteorite impact craters in search for the presence of hexagonal diamond. Results of this analysis showed that pure 3C and 2H polytypes are not contained in the carbon materials of impact origin, the structure of nanocrystals found representing diamonds with randomly packed layers. The term “lonsdaleite,” used to denote carbon materials found in meteorite impact craters and diamond crystals with 2H polytype structure, is rather ambiguous, since no pure hexagonal diamond has been identified in carbon phases found at meteorite fall sites.     

Graphitization of diamond stimulated by electron-hole recombination

A laser field photon whose energy exceeds a crystals electronic band gap generates electron-hole pairs. Non-radiative recombination of such pairs in diamond may assist transiting the carbon atoms into the graphite phase, that is, graphitization of diamond. A theoretical problem of finding the rate of this type of laser-driven graphitization process is posed. One and three dimensional geometries of surface graphitization are studied. Graphitization rates are evaluated, as well as the thickness of the formed graphite layers, as functions of temperature . PACS 79.20.Ds; 81.05.t; 81.65.Cf     

First-principles energy band calculation for undoped and S-doped TiO2 with anatase structure

The electronic structure of S-doped TiO₂ with an optimized anatase structure was calculated within the framework of the density functional theory (DFT). For the calculation we built four kinds of supercells; type-A and B supercells consist of 12 and 48 atoms and a centered Ti atom is substituted for an S atom, while type-C and D supercells consist of 12 and 48 atoms and a centered O atom is substituted for an S atom. The supercells (type-B and D) were employed to adjust the S-concentration in TiO₂ to an experimental value of a few %. The changes of the lattice parameters are not significant in the type-A and B supercells. The phase transition from the tetragonal to the orthorhombic occurs in the type-C and D supercells. In the small supercell (type-A), S-related states are located in the range of −1.6 to 0 eV, and the S-states are band-like. In contrast, in the large supercell (type-B), S-related states appeared at about 0.9 eV above the top of the valence band, and the S-states are atomic-like. The localization of the S-related states is remarkable in the type-B supercell. In the type-D supercell, the S-related states were merged with the top of the valence band, and as a result the band-gap energy is narrowed by 0.7 eV. Despite a low S-concentration (3%) in the type-D supercell, the S-related states are somewhat band-like.     

Electronic structure of diamond/graphite composite nanoparticles

The electronic structure of samples produced by nanodiamond annealing has been examined using ultra-soft X-ray emission and X-ray absorption spectroscopy. Analysis of spectra of diamond/graphite composites showed that carbon atoms constituting the nanoparticles are at least in three states: diamond-like state, graphitic-like state and interface carbon, characterized by high electron localization. Comparison between theoretical spectra of the models and experimental spectra suggested the latter states correspond to three-coordinated carbon atoms from diamond surface.