Effect of layer sliding on the interfacial electronic properties of intercalated silicene/indium selenide van der Waals heterostructure

Methods capable of tuning the properties of van der Waals (vdW) layered materials in a controlled and reversible manner are highly desirable. Interfacial electronic properties of two-dimensional vdW heterostructure consisting of silicene and indium selenide (InSe) have been calculated using density functional theory-based computational code. Furthermore, in order to vary the aforementioned properties, silicene is slid over a InSe layer in the presence of Li intercalation. On intercalation of the heterostructure, the buckling parameter associated with the corrugation of silicene decreases from 0.44 Å to 0.36 Å, whereas the InSe structure remains unaffected. Potential energy scans reveal a significant increase in the sliding energy barrier for the case of intercalated heterostructure as compared with the unintercalated heterostructure. The sliding of the silicene encounters the maximum energy barrier of 0.14 eV. Anisotropic analysis shows the noteworthy differences between calculated in-plane and out-of-plane part of dielectric function. A variation of the planar average charge density difference, dipole charge transfer and dipole moment have been discussed to elucidate the usability spectrum of the heterostructure. The employed approach based on intercalation and layer sliding can be effectively utilized for obtaining next-generation multifunctional devices.     

Classification of static spherically symmetric perfect fluid space-times via conformal vector fields in f(T) gravity

In this paper, we classify static spherically symmetric (SS) perfect fluid space-times via conformal vector fields (CVFs) in f(T) gravity. For this analysis, we first explore static SS solutions by solving the Einstein field equations in f(T) gravity. Secondly, we implement a direct integration technique to classify the resulting solutions. During the classification, there arose 20 cases. Studying each case thoroughly, we came to know that in three cases the space-times under consideration admit proper CVFs in f(T) gravity. In one case, the space-time admits proper homothetic vector fields, whereas in the remaining 16 cases either the space-times become conformally flat or they admit Killing vector fields.     

Comparison of Young's modulus and specific heat anomalies at the magnetic transition in α′-NaV2O5

We have measured Young's modulus (using a vibrating reed technique) and the specific heat (using ac calorimetry) on the same crystals of α′-NaV₂O₅ at its T_c=34 K magnetic phase transition. Both properties exhibit large, unsymmetrical, and sample-dependent anomalies. While the specific heat results suggest tricritical behavior of the transition, large fluctuation effects are observed in the modulus above T_c. Fits of the modulus in terms of the specific heat, entropy, and free energy suggest that fluctuations are strongly stress- and sample-dependent.     

Molecular orbital study of excited state geometry of substituted benzenes

The liquid-like structure of a polystyrene latex solution of particle size 109 nm and its dependence on the ionic strength of added sodium chloride is investigated via the static light scattering structure factor S(Q). The experimental S(Q)s are compared with structure factors derived in the rescaled mean spherical approximation (RMSA) of Hansen and Hayter. After adjustment of the macromolecular charge Z _M such that the neat (salt free) latex solution is best represented by the RMSA, the experimental structure factors obtained after addition of salt can adequately be accounted for in terms of the RMSA by merely readjusting the ionic strength in the calculations. Our investigation indicates that the RMSA and the underlying screened Coulomb potential are suited for a detailed simulation of the structure and structural changes due to a variation of the ionic strength of liquid-like ordered solutions.     

All Valence Electron Molecular Orbital Study of Electronic Strture and Spectra of the Three Isometric Xylenes

Abstract

The modified method of Del Bene and Jaffe' (CNDO-CI) has been applied to study the electronic structure and spectra of the three isomeric xylenes taking a three dimensional geometry for the CH₃ group. The spectral transition energies and the corresponding oscillator strengths have been computed and the results are compared with ?-electron calculations and experimental results. Quite satisfactory results have been obtained. Ionization potentials have also been computed by the INDO and extended Hückel methods.     

IR Evidences for N-9 and N-7 Regioisomers of the Acyclic Purine Nucleoside Analogues

The IR spectra have been recorded in the solid state for the parent molecule, 6-(N-pyrrolyl)purine (1) and its N-9-and N-7-substituted derivatives: 9-and 7-(2-hydroxyprop-1-yl)-6-(N-pyrrol-1-yl)purine (2 and 3), 9-and 7-(2-acetoxyprop-1-yl)-6-(N-pyrrol-1-yl)purine (4 and 5), 9-and 7-(2,3-dihydroxyprop-1-yl)-6-(N-pyrrol-1-yl)purine (6 and 7) as well as 9-and 7-(2,3-diacetoxyprop-1-yl)-6-(N-pyrrol-1-yl)purine (8 and 9). Analysis of the characteristic bands has proved to be useful in differentiating between N-9 and N-7 regioisomers.     

Synthesis and physical properties of Ca- and Ta-modified (K,Na)NbO3 lead-free piezoelectric ceramics

Polycrystalline samples of lead-free Ca and Ta co-substituted potassium sodium niobate (K_0.5Na_0.5NbO_3, KNN) ceramics have been prepared by solid state reaction technique. X-ray diffraction showed formation of a single-phase perovskite structure with orthorhombic symmetry. Substitution inhibits the grain growth, improves densification and decreases the ferro-paraelectric phase transition temperature. Temperature dependent dielectric permittivity studies demonstrate significant decrease in peak-permittivity values in the substituted samples. Bulk longitudinal piezoelectric coefficient is significantly enhanced, up to ～155 pC/N for (K_0.48Na_0.48Ca_0.02)(Nb_0.85Ta_0.15O₃) as compared to 95 pC/N for pristine KNN ceramic. Local piezoelectric properties have been observed by piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM) technique. Distinct piezocontrast was studied in both vertical and in-plane modes of PFM for all samples. The samples exhibit self-polarization effect in the unpoled state and effective local vertical piezoelectric coefficient was the largest in Ca and Ta co-substituted sample whereas the in-plane piezoelectric coefficient was maximum for Ca-substituted KNN sample. These studies are important for using substituted lead free KNN materials in various piezoelectric applications.     

Electrical characterization of PVA-based nanocomposite electrolyte nanofibre mats doped with a multiwalled carbon nanotube

An attempt has been made to prepare and characterise ammonium thiocyanate (NH₄SCN) salt and a multiwall carbon nanotube (MWNT)-doped polyvinyl alcohol-based nanofibre mats using an electrospinning process. The X-ray diffraction result shows an improvement in the amorphous nature of composite electrolyte fibre mats with increasing concentrations of the MWNT filler. The DSC behaviour of these nanofibre mat exhibits better thermal response upon dispersal of the filler. Composite electrolyte nanofibre mat doped with 6 wt% MWNT shows optimum conductivity, viz., 5.8?×?10^?4 Scm^?1. The temperature dependence of the bulk electrical conductivity displays a combination of Arrhenius and Vogel–Tammam–Fulcher nature. Dielectric loss studies have also been used to understand the conduction process in the system. Jonscher power law seems to be obeyed during ac conductivity measurements of the fibre mats.