Charge modulation of magnetization in X-doped MgO nanotube clusters (X=C,N)

First-principles calculations based on density functional theory are performed to study the magnetic and electronic properties of X-doped 8×7 MgO nanotube clusters (X=C, N). The N dopant easily occupies the O-site at the edge of MgO nanotube, embracing neutral or charged defect state, and induces notable magnetization in N-doped MgO tubular cluster. More important, this p-electron magnetization can be significantly modulated as the charged state of the defect changes. Regarding C doping, impurity atom readily substitute the Mg atom located at the edge of MgO nanotube to form neutral defect, and net magnetization is found to be zero. The calculated electron densities of states show that the O-site N doping at the edge greatly narrows or even destroys band-gap, while it enlarges somewhat for the Mg-site C doping at the edge. The results are likely to stimulate a promising class of materials for various applications ranging from spintronics to magneto-optics.     

The influence of semiconducting properties of passive films on the cavitation erosion resistance of a NbN nanoceramic coating

To alleviate the cavitation damage of metallic engineering components in hydrodynamic systems operating in marine environments, a NbN nanoceramic coating was synthesized on to a Ti-6Al-4V substrate via a double cathode glow discharge technique. The microstructure of the coating consisted of a ~13 μm thick deposition layer of a hexagonal δ′-NbN phase and a diffusion layer ~2 μm in thickness composed of face-centered cubic (fcc) B1-NaCl–structured (Ti,Nb)N. The NbN coating not only exhibited higher values of H/E and H²/E than those measured from NbN coatings deposited by other techniques, but also possessed good adhesion to the substrate. The cavitation erosion resistance of the NbN coating in a 3.5 wt% NaCl solution was investigated using an ultrasonic cavitation-induced apparatus combined with a range of electrochemical test methods. Potentiodynamic polarization measurements demonstrated that the NbN coated specimens demonstrated both a higher corrosion potential (E_corr) and lower corrosion current density (i_corr) than the uncoated substrate. Mott-Schottky analysis, combined with the point defect model (PDM), revealed that, for a given cavitation time, the donor density (N_D) of the passive film on the NbN coating was reduced by 1 ~ 2 orders of magnitude relative to the uncoated Ti-6Al-4V, and the diffusivity of the point defects (D₀) in the passive film grown on the NbN coating was nearly one order of magnitude lower than that on the uncoated substrate. In order to better understand the experimental observations obtained from Mott-Schottky analysis and double-charge layer capacitance measurements, first-principles density-functional theory was employed to calculate the energy of vacancy formation and the adsorption energy for chloride ions for the passive films present on both the NbN coating and bare Ti-6Al-4V.     

高压下c-BN的力学、电子结构及光学性质研究

为了研究不同压力下c-BN的力学性质、电子结构以及光学性质的变化,基于密度泛函理论构建了不同压力下c-BN的晶体模型。发现c-BN在不同压力下均力学稳定,随着压力增加,c-BN的弹性常数逐渐增大,材料的可压缩性逐渐变差;c-BN在零压下的禁带宽度为4.367 eV,表明c-BN是间接宽带隙半导体,随着压力增加,c-BN的禁带宽度逐渐增大,态密度谱图变化不明显;对Milliken 布居分布在不同压力下进行分析,表明随着压力增加,B、N原子杂化后形成的B-N共价性增强。对c-BN的复介电函数、折射率、反射率等进行分析,发现随着压力增大,它们都产生一定蓝移,且在整个可见光谱范围以及红外与紫外（约从204nm开始）光谱的很大范围内都透明。研究结果对高压下c-BN的应用有一定参考价值。     

三四五族元素掺杂对五元环石墨烯电学性能的影响

本文基于第一性原理计算研究了一种以五元环作为基本结构单元所构成的碳同素异性体--五元环石墨烯。五元环石墨烯具有准直接带隙的特征。本文讨论了三四五族中的原子替换掺杂五元环石墨烯后对其结构和禁带宽度的影响。其中,硼原子和氮原子掺杂后五元环石墨烯呈现金属特性;硅原子掺杂后的五元环石墨烯结构将在纳米电子器件领域有应用的前景。     

Opening of Band Gap of Graphene with High Electronic Mobility by Codoping BN Pairs

Two-dimensional(2D) materials with a high density and low power consumption have become the most popular candidates for next-generation semiconductor electronic devices. As a prototype 2D material, graphene has attracted much attention owing to its stability and ultrahigh mobility. However, zero band gap of graphene leads to very low on-off ratios and thus limits its applications in electronic devices, such as transistors. Although some new 2D materials and doped graphene have nonzero band gaps, the electronic mobility is sacrificed. In this study, to open the band gap of graphene with high electronic mobility, the structure and property of BN-doped graphene were evaluated using first-principles calculations. The formation energies indicate that the six-membered BN rings doped graphene has the most favorable configuration. The band structures show that the band gaps can be opened by such type of doping. Also, the Dirac-cone-like band dispersion of graphene is mostly inhibited, ensuring high electronic mobility. Therefore, codoping BN into graphene might provide 2D materials with nonzero band gaps and high electronic mobility.     

Two-dimensional blue-phase CX(X=S,Se) monolayers with high carrier mobility and tunable photocatalytic water splitting capability

Photocatalytic water splitting utilizing solar energy is considered as one of the most ideal strategies for solving the ene rgy and environmental issues.Recently,two-dimensional(2 D) materials with an intrinsic dipole show great chance to achieve excellent photocatalytic performance.In this work,blue-phase monolayer carbon monochalcogenides(CX,X=S,Se) are constructed and systematically studied as photocatalysts for water splitting by performing first-principles calculations based on density functional theory.After confirming the great dynamical,thermal,and mechanical stability of CX monolayers,we observe that they possess moderate band gaps(2.41 eV for CS and 2.46 eV for CSe) and high carrier mobility(3.23 × 10~4 cm~2 V~(-1) s~(-1) for CS and 4.27 × 10~3 cm~2 V~(-1) s~(-1) for CSe),comparable to those of many recently reported 2 D photocatalysts.Moreover,these two monolayer materials are found to have large intrinsic dipole(0.43 D for CS and 0.51 D for CSe),thus the build-in internal electric field can be selfintroduced,which can effectively drive the separation of photongenerated carriers.More importantly,the well-aligned band edge as well as rather pronounced optical absorption in the visible-light and ultraviolet regions further ensure that our proposed CX monolayers can be used as high efficient photocatalysts for water splitting.Additionally,the effects of external strain on the electronic,optical and photocatalytic properties of CX monolayers are also evaluated.These theoretical predictions will stimulate further work to open up the energy-related applications of CX monolayers.     

Green Eu-doped Ba3Si6O12N2 phosphor for white light-emitting diodes: Synthesis, characterization and theoretical simulation

The Eu²⁺-doped Ba₃Si₆O₁₂N₂ green phosphor (Eu_xBa_3−xSi₆O₁₂N₂) was synthesized by a conventional solid state reaction method. It could be efficiently excited by UV-blue light (250-470 nm) and shows a single intense broadband emission (480-580 nm). The phosphor has a concentration quenching effect at x=0.20 and a systematic red-shift in emission wavelength with increasing Eu²⁺ concentration. High quantum efficiency and suitable excitation range make it match well with the emission of near-UV LEDs or blue LEDs. First-principles calculations indicate that Ba₃Si₆O₁₂N₂:Eu²⁺ phosphor exhibits a direct band gap, and low band energy dispersion, leading to a high luminescence intensity. The origin of the experimental absorption peaks is clearly identified based on the analysis of the density of states (DOS) and absorption spectra. The photoluminescence properties are related to the transition between 4f levels of Eu and 5d levels of both Eu and Ba atoms. The 5d energy level of Ba plays an important role in the photoluminescence of Ba₃Si₆O₁₂N₂:Eu²⁺ phosphor. The high quantum efficiency and long-wavelength excitation are mainly attributed to the existence of Ba atoms. Our results give a new explanation of photoluminescence properties and could direct future designation of novel phosphors for white light LED.     

Magnetism and electronic structure of Mn- and V-doped zinc blende ZnTe from first-principles calculations

By means of the first-principles full potential linearized augmented plane-wave method within the local density approximation for the exchange-correlation functional, we have investigated the magnetism and electronic structure of Mn- and V-doped zinc blende ZnTe. Total energy calculations show that, for high doping concentration (12.5%), ZnTe:Mn has an antiferromagnetic ground state while the ferromagnetic state is more favorable than the antiferromagnetic state for ZnTe:V. Furthermore, ZnTe with a low doping of Mn (6.25%) has a stable ferromagnetic ground state, which is in agreement with the experimental results. The calculated magnetic moment of ZnTe doped with Mn (V) mainly originates from transition metal Mn (V) atom with a little contribution from Te atom due to the hybridization between Mn (V) 3d and Te 5p electrons. Electronic structure indicates that Mn-doped ZnTe is a semiconductor, but V-doped ZnTe shows a half-metallic characteristic. We also discuss the difference between electronic and magnetic properties for ZnTe doped with 12.5% and 6.25% Mn.     

Structural stability and elastic properties of L12 Co3(Ga,W) precipitate from first-principle calculations

Ultrasoft pseudopotential within a generalized gradient approximation was employed to study the structural stability, electronic structure, and elastic properties of ternary Co₃(Ga,W) precipitate. The Young’s and shear moduli of the polycrystals containing the Co₃(Ga,W) precipitate were calculated using the Voigt-Reuss-Hill averaging scheme. Results show that the stable ternary Co₃(Ga,W) compound has the L1₂ structure, and is ductile in nature. The structural stability of the Co₃(Ga,W) compound is discussed together with the calculated electronic structure.     

First-principle study on catalytic activity of functionalized Ti3C2 MXene as cathode catalyst for Li–O2 batteries

Two-dimensional layered Ti₃C₂, one representative MXene, is notable as promising cathode catalyst for rechargeable lithium-oxygen (Li–O₂) batteries. Using first-principles calculations, we construct cathode electrochemical interface catalytic model to simulate the structural evolution during discharging and charging processes, and the calculated ORR, OER and TOT overpotentials are used to quantitatively assess the catalytic activity of Ti₃C₂ MXene with and without O, F and OH functional groups. Interestingly, we find that the catalytic activity follows such a trend: Ti₃C₂O₂>Ti₃C₂F₂>Ti₃C₂(OH)₂>Ti₃C₂, which suggests that O-terminated Ti₃C₂ MXene has great advantages and potentiality for catalyzing ORR and OER in Li–O₂ batteries. This is caused by Ti₃C₂O₂ surface shows stronger oxidation capability toward O₂²⁻ compared to Ti₃C₂F₂, Ti₃C₂(OH)₂ and Ti₃C₂. The present study may provide a guideline to accelerate ORR and OER reactions of Ti₃C₂ MXene as cathode catalyst in Li–O₂ batteries, with O-terminated group being taken into consideration.