Strain‐Engineered Modulation on the Electronic Properties of Phosphorous‐Doped ZnO

The modulation of strain on the electronic properties of ZnO:P is investigated by density functional theory calculations. The variation of formation energy (E^f) and band structure with strains ranging from ?0.1 to 0.1 are considered. Although both the conduction band minimum (CBM) and the valence band maximum of ZnO are antibonding states, the CBM is more sensitive to strain, reducing the band gap with an increase in strain. P‐substituted O (P_O) defects show poor p‐type conductivity due to a smaller E^f and lower lying acceptor levels as a consequence of lattice expansion. The E^f of P‐substituted Zn (P_Zn) defects decreases under tension, owing to the release of strong repulsive stress induced by excess electrons from P_Zn. The donor energy band of P_Zn broadens under tensile strain, which benefits n‐type conductivity. For Zn vacancies (V_Zn) and P_Zn–2V_Zn complexes, the distances between the O atoms around V_Zn are so large that repulsive and attractive interactions become weak, which results in an easy release of the strain. We herein present for the first time that the E^f values of V_Zn and P_Zn–2V_Zn complexes decrease under both tension and compression, or in the high‐pressure rock‐salt phase. Under a strain of 0.1 the P_Zn–2V_Zn complex shows the smallest E^f. Under ?0.07 strain the wurtzite/rock‐salt phase transition occurs and the direct band gap becomes an indirect one. The variation of band structures in the rock‐salt phase is similar to that in the wurtzite phase. Consequently, the p‐type conductivity of ZnO:P can be improved with an increase in solubility of P_Zn–2V_Zn or V_Zn defects.     

Effect of Nitrogen and Fluorine Co‐substitution on the Structure and Magnetic Properties of Cr2O3

First‐principles density functional calculations were carried out to determine the structure as well as electronic and magnetic properties of N and F co‐substituted Cr₂O₃. The formation of strong Cr?N bonds upon substitution of oxygen with nitrogen leads to large distortions in the local structure and changes in magnetic moments, which are partly compensated by co‐substitution with fluorine. The effects of spin–orbit coupling are relatively weak, but its combination with local structural distortions gives rise to canting of spins and an overall magnetic moment in N, F co‐substituted Cr₂O₃. Experimentally, we observe spin canting in N, F co‐substituted Cr₂O₃ with considerable enhancement in the coercive field at low temperatures.     

High‐temperature mass spectrometric study of the vaporization processes of V2O3 and vanadium‐containing slags

A Knudsen effusion mass spectrometric method was used to study the vaporization processes and thermodynamic properties of pure V₂O₃ and 14 samples of vanadium‐containing slags in the CaO‐MgO‐Al₂O₃‐SiO₂ system in the temperature range 1875–2625 K. The system was calibrated using gold in the liquid state as the standard. Vaporization was carried out from double tungsten effusion cells. First it was shown that, in vapor over V₂O₃ and the vanadium‐containing slags in the temperature range 1875–2100 K, the following vapor species were present: VO₂, VO, O, WO₃ and WO₂, with the latter two species being formed as a result of interaction with the tungsten crucibles. The temperature dependencies of the partial pressures of these vapor species were obtained over V₂O₃ and the slags. The ion current comparison method was used for the determination of the V₂O₃ activities in slags as a function of temperature with solid V₂O₃ as a reference state. The V₂O₃ activity coefficients in the slags under investigation indicated positive deviations from ideality at 1900 K and a tendency to ideal behavior at 2100 K. It was shown that the V₂O₃ activity as a function of the slag basicity decreased at 1900 K and 2000 K and was practically constant in the slag melts at 2100 K. The results are expected to be valuable in the optimization of slag composition in high‐alloy steelmaking processes as well as for their environmental implications. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Probing the Electronic Structure and Photoactivation Process of Nitrogen‐Doped TiO2 Using DRS,PL, and EPR

The electronic structure and photoactivation process in N‐doped TiO₂ is investigated. Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), photoluminescence (PL), and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) are employed to monitor the change of optical absorption ability and the formation of N species and defects in the heat‐ and photoinduced N‐doped TiO₂ catalyst. Under thermal treatment below 573 K in vacuum, no nitrogen dopant is removed from the doped samples but oxygen vacancies and Ti³⁺ states are formed to enhance the optical absorption in the visible‐light region, especially at wavelengths above 500 nm with increasing temperature. In the photoactivation processes of N‐doped TiO₂, the DRS absorption and PL emission in the visible spectral region of 450–700 nm increase with prolonged irradiation time. The EPR results reveal that paramagnetic nitrogen species (N_s^.), oxygen vacancies with one electron (V_o^.), and Ti³⁺ ions are produced with light irradiation and the intensity of N_s^. species is dependent on the excitation light wavelength and power. The combined characterization results confirm that the energy level of doped N species is localized above the valence band of TiO₂ corresponding to the main absorption band at 410 nm of N‐doped TiO₂, but oxygen vacancies and Ti³⁺ states as defects contribute to the visible‐light absorption above 500 nm in the overall absorption of the doped samples. Thus, a detailed picture of the electronic structure of N‐doped TiO₂ is proposed and discussed. On the other hand, the transfer of charge carriers between nitrogen species and defects is reversible on the catalyst surface. The presence of oxygen‐vacancy‐related defects leads to quenching of paramagnetic N_s^. species but they stabilize the active nitrogen species N_s^?.     

Hydrothermal Synthesis and Characterization of (H3N(CH2)4NH3)[V6O14]

A new layered vanadium oxide [H₃N(CH₂)₄NH₃](V₆O₁₄) was synthesized hydrothermally under autogenous pressure at 180°C for 48 h from a mixture of H₂N(CH₂)₄NH₂ and V₂O₅ in aqueous solution. Its structure was determined from single-crystal X-ray diffraction at room temperature with final R=0.0774 and R_w=0.0893. It crystallizes in the monoclinic system (space group P2₁/n with a=9.74(2) Å, b=6.776(5) Å, c=12.60(2) Å, β=96.1(1)°, V=827(2) ų and Z=2). This compound contains mixed-valence V⁵⁺/V⁴⁺ vanadium oxide layers built from [V^VO₄] tetrahedra and pairs of edge-sharing [V^IVO₅] square pyramids with protonated organic amines occupying the interlayer space.     

Semiempirical computational study of oxygen vacancies in a decahedral anatase nanoparticle

Formation of oxygen vacancies (V_O) is an important step of many catalytic reactions following the Mars van Krevelen mechanism. High rate of oxidation is associated with low energy of V_O formation while high selectivity requires an optimal energy of V_O formation. In the present computational study, enthalpy of V_O formation (ΔH_OVF) is studied in a decahedral anatase nanoparticle (TiO₂)₁₂₁(H₂O)₆ using PM6 method. ΔH_OVF shows large variations for oxygen atoms in different locations on facets, edges and vertices. V_O are much more stable in the (101) facet compared to the (001) facet, while internal V_O are more stable for (101) but equally stable for (001) facet compared to surface vacancies on average. Comparison with literature DFT methods results reveals good consistency and high computational efficiency of the PM6 method for vacancies formation energy. Pm6 also correctly predicts admixture states of the Ti³⁺ within the band gap, but absolute values of electronic band gap and position of admixture states is overestimated and needs scaling factors.     

Synthesis,Band and Crystal Structures,and Optical Properties of the Ternary Compound Mg2Te3O8

The new spiroffite Mg₂Te₃O₈ ( 1 ) was prepared by hydrothemal methods and structurally characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis. Compound 1 crystallizes in the space group C2/c of the monoclinic system with two formula units in a cell: a = 12.6030(7), b = 5.2254(3), c = 11.6331(7) Å, β = 98.6960(10)°, V = 757.30(8) ų. The structure features a 3D open‐framework with spiroffite topology that has large tunnels approximately 3.2 × 5.5 Å. The optical properties and thermal stability of 1 were characterized by UV and IR spectroscopy as well as TG. Calculations of the electronic band structure along with the density of states (DOS) indicate that the present compound is a semiconductor with an indirect band gap, and that the optical absorption is mainly originated from the charge transitions from O‐2p state to Te‐5p and Te‐5s states.     

Electronic structure and thermodynamics of V2O3 polymorphs

A metastable bixbyite‐type polymorph of vanadium sesquioxide, V₂O₃, has recently been synthesized, and it transforms to the corundum‐type phase at temperatures around 550 °C. The possibility of a paramagnetic to canted antiferromagnetic or even spin‐glass‐like transition has been discussed. Quantum‐chemical calculations on the density‐functional theory level including explicit electronic correlation confirm the metastability as well as the semiconducting behavior of the material and predict that the bixbyite‐type structure is about 0.1 eV less stable than the well‐known corundum‐type phase. Nonetheless, quasiharmonic phonon calculations manifest that bixbyite‐type vanadium sesquioxide is a dynamically stable compound. Other possible V₂O₃ polymorphs are shown to be even less suitable candidates for the composition V₂O₃. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Hydrothermal Synthesis of Na0.28V2O5 Nanobelts and their Electrochemical Behavior in Lithium Batteries

A simple low temperature hydrothermal method was found to yield Na_0.28V₂O₅ nanobelts after two days at 130 °C in acidic medium (H₂SO₄) without using any surfactant. The obtained products were characterized by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR), and Raman spectroscopy. Their morphology was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Additionally, their electrochemical behavior in a lithium battery was investigated. The XRD pattern shows that the product is composed of monoclinic Na_0.28V₂O₅ nanobelts. From the FTIR spectrum, the band centered at 961 cm^–1 is assigned to V=O stretching vibration, which is sensitive to intercalation and suggests that Na⁺ ions are inserted between the vanadium oxide layers. SEM/TEM analyses reveal that the products consist of a large quantity of nanobelts which have a thickness of 60–150 nm and a length of several tens of micrometers. The electrochemical results show that the nanobelts exhibit an initial discharge specific capacity of 390 mAh · g^–1, and its stabilized capacity still remained around 200 mAh · g^–1 after the 18th cycle.     

New defect vanadium dioxide phases

Two new monoclinic V₂O₄ phases were prepared at high pressure from the regular monoclinic (M₁) form of V₂O₄. The unit cell dimensions for the unmodified monoclinic (M₂) phase are: a = 9.083, b = 5.763, c = 4.532 Å, and β = 91.30°. The space group $\text{C 2}\text{m}$ is consistent with the crystallographic data. The new vanadium dioxide exhibited a structural transition and an abrupt, reversible change in resistivity (approx. 4 orders of magnitude) at 66°C similar to that observed in M₁-type V₂O₄. This new form of V₂O₄ is believed to be stabilized by chemical and structural defects. Controlled substitution of V⁵⁺ for V⁴⁺ in the structure led to yet another monoclinic (M₃) phase. This phase is closely related to the M₂ phase. The M₃ unit cell dimensions are: a = 4.506, b = 2.899, c = 4.617 Å, and β = 91.79°, having the space group $\text{P 2}\text{m}$. The substitution of V³⁺ yielded only monoclinic (M₁) derivatives. The modified products have varied semiconductor to metal transition temperatures which depend on the type and amount of substitution and defect structure.     

Disordered structure of ZrW1.8V0.2O7.9 from a combined X‐ray and neutron powder diffraction study at 530 K

A novel compound, vanadium aliovalent substituted zirconium tungstate, ZrW_1.8V_0.2O_7.9, was prepared with vanadium substituting tungsten rather than the common zirconium substitution. The structure of the high‐temperature phase was refined from combined neutron and X‐ray powder diffraction data gathered at 530 K. This phase is the disordered centric modification (space group Pa) and the average crystal structure is similar to that of β‐ZrW₂O₈. The V atom occupies only a W2 site and charge compensation is achieved through oxygen vacancy, i.e. the oxygen vacancy occurs at only the O4 site. [Atom names follow the established scheme; Evans et al. (1996). Chem. Mater. 8 , 2809–2823.]     

Hydrothermal synthesis and electrochemistry of a δ-type manganese vanadium oxide

A new manganese vanadium oxide containing double sheets of V₂O₅ layers has been synthesized hydrothermally in the presence of tetramethylammonium ions. It has the electrochemically active δ-V₂O₅ structure, variants of which are found in V₆O₁₃ and xerogel vanadium oxides. The manganese ions, together with the N(CH₃)₄ ions, reside in a disordered manner between the oxide sheets. The δ-type [N(CH₃)₄]_zMn_yV₂O₅·nH₂O has a monoclinic structure, a=11.66(2) Å, b=3.610(9) Å, c=13.91(4) Å, β=108.8(2)°. It reacts readily with lithium with a capacity exceeding 220 mAh g⁻¹; the organic ions do not impede reaction as in the single sheet V₂O₅ materials, such as N(CH₃)₄V₃O₇.     

Electronic Structures of LixV2O5 (x=0.5 and 1): A Theoretical Study

The electronic properties of α‐Li_xV₂O₅ (x=0.5 and 1) are investigated using first principle calculations based on density functional theory with local density approximation. Different intercalation sites for Li in the V₂O₅ lattices are considered, showing different influences on the electronic structures of Li_xV₂O₅. The lowest total energy is found when Li is only intercalated along the c axis between two bridging oxygen ions of sequential V₂O₅ layers. The intercalation of Li into V₂O₅ does not change the electron transition property of V₂O₅, which is an indirect band gap semiconductor, but leads to a reduction of vanadium ions and an increase of the Fermi level of Li_xV₂O₅ arising from the electron transfer from the Li 2 s orbital to the initially empty conduction band of the V₂O₅ host.     

Unprecedented High‐Nuclear Transition‐Metal‐Cluster‐Substituted Heteropolyoxoniobates: Synthesis by {V8} Ring Insertion into the POM Matrix and Antitumor Activities

Reactions of hexaniobate with vanadate in the presence of Ni²⁺, Zn²⁺, or Cu²⁺ have furnished three high‐nuclear vanadium cluster‐substituted heteropolyoxoniobates (HPNs): {Ni(en)₃}₅H{V^VNb₈V^IV₈O₄₄} ? 9 H₂O ( 1 ), (H₂en)Na₂[{Zn(en)₂(Hen)}{Zn(en)₂(H₂O)}₂{PNb₈V^IV₈O₄₄}] ? 11 H₂O ( 2 ), and Na{Cu(en)₂}₃{[Cu(en)₂]₂[PNb₈V^IV₈O₄₄]} ? 11 H₂O ( 3 ) (en=1,2‐diaminoethane). Their structures have been determined and characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and elemental analysis. Structural analysis has revealed that compounds 1 – 3 contain similar {V₈}‐substituted [X^VNb₈V^IV₈O₄₄]^11? (X=P, V) clusters, obtained by inserting a {V₈} ring into tetravacant HPN [XNb₈O₃₆]^27?. To the best of our knowledge, compounds 1 – 3 represent the first high‐nuclear vanadium cluster‐substituted HPNs, and compound 1 is the largest vanadoniobate cluster yet obtained in HPN chemistry. Nickel and zinc cations have been introduced into HPNs for the first time, which might promise a more diverse set of structures in this family. Antitumor studies have indicated that compounds 1 and 2 exhibit high activity against human gastric cancer SGC‐7901 cells, SC‐1680 cells, and MG‐63 cells.     

A comparative XPS and UPS study of VOx layers on mineral TiO2(001)‐anatase supports

Four vanadium oxide layers on mineral TiO₂(001)‐anatase supports with different thickness (3–33 Å) were prepared with reactive d.c. magnetron sputtering and were extensively studied with photoelectron spectroscopy. Al Kα radiation and 150 eV synchrotron radiation were used as excitation sources. The evolution of the 2p, 3s and 3p core level line shapes of V and Ti as a function of the vanadium oxide thickness was studied, as well as the O1s and O2s core lines and the valence band. All the V2p spectra of the deposited vanadium oxide layers consist of at least 60% V⁵⁺, the rest being V⁴⁺. The V3p region is complicated by multiplet splitting, which prevents the determination of the vanadium oxidation state. The V3p multiplet splitting is different for the two excitation energies. No reduction of the titania support surface due to the vanadium oxide deposition was observed. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Comparative Structural and Electrical Studies of V2O3 and V2—xNixO3 (0 < x < 0.75) Solid Solution

V₂O₃ room and low temperature structures have been refined using PXRD and Rietveld procedures. At 15 K, in addition to the umbrella like opening of V—O bonds associated to the typical large V—V distance through the face shared octahedra (V—V_fsh) we have observed three different V—V distances through the edge shared octahedra (V—V_edsh) : 2.985Å, 2.908Å, and 2.847Å. This splitting is a consequence of the rotation of V—V pairs in a plane itself rotated out of the ( ac ) one which appears to be the origin for the well‐known rhombohedral to monoclinic distortion. Ni for V substitutions drive to a V_2—xNi_xO₃ solid solution with a wide homogeneity range (0 < x < 0.75). Structure refinements on selected compositions show that at both room and 15 K temperatures the typical V₂O₃ corundum type is kept. At 300 K, the main Ni effect is a drastic decrease of the c parameter associated to a flattening of the octahedra but also to an increase of the M—M_fsh distance without rotation of the M—M pairs. This explains the absence of the monoclinic transition in the whole homogeneity and temperature ranges and shows clearly that a large M—M_fsh distance is not necessarily associated with the monoclinic form. Despite this large distance observed in the whole temperature range, the electric behavior exhibits a conductor to insulator transition. It is explained in terms of semi conduction via an electron hopping process between V³⁺ and V⁴⁺ cations which depends on Ni amounts. This last result implies also that a large M—M_fsh distance is not associated with an insulating behavior.     

First‐Principles Calculations on Electronic Structures of N/V‐Doped and N‐V‐Dodoped Anatase TiO2 (101) Surfaces

The energetic and electronic properties of N/V‐doped and N‐V‐codoped anatase TiO₂ (101) surfaces are investigated by first‐principles calculations, with the aim to elucidate the relationship between the electronic structure and the photocatalytic performance of N‐V‐codoped TiO₂. Several substitutional and interstitial configurations for the N and/or V impurities in the bulk phase and on the surface are studied, and the relative stability of different doping configurations is compared by the impurity formation energy. Systematic calculations reveal that N and V impurities can be encapsulated by TiO₂ to form stable structures as a result of strong N‐V interactions both in the bulk and the surface model. Through analyzing and comparing the electronic structures of different doping systems, the synergistic doping effects are discussed in detail. Based on these discussions, we suggest that N_OV_Ti codoping cannot only narrow the band gap of anatase TiO₂, but also forms impurity states, which are propitious for the separation of photoexcited electron–hole pairs. In the case of N_OV_Ti‐codoped TiO₂ (101) surfaces, this phenomenon is especially prominent. Finally, a feasible synthesis route for N_OV_Ti codoping into anatase TiO₂ is proposed.     

Electrochemistry of vanadium-doped tetragonal and monoclinic ZrO2 attached to graphite/polyester composite electrodes

The electrochemistry of monoclinic and tetragonal vanadium-doped zirconias (VZrO₂), prepared from gel precursors with vanadium loadings ranging from 0.5 to 15 mol%, has been studied using abrasive-conditioned graphite/polyester composite electrodes immersed in aqueous HCl and HClO₄ solutions. Isolated vanadium centers form a solid solution in the zirconia lattice with a solubility limit close to 5 mol%. Above 5 mol%, finely dispersed V₂O₅ is formed. Vanadium centers located at the boundary sites of the zirconia lattice display successive one-electron transfer processes near to +0.25 and +0.10 V vs. SCE, whereas finely dispersed V₂O₅ yields three successive reduction processes at +0.46, +0.30, and +0.16 V vs. SCE. Electrochemical data indicate the presence of both V⁵⁺ and V⁴⁺ centers in the lattice of monoclinic and tetragonal zirconias, the V⁵⁺/V⁴⁺ ratio decreasing as the vanadium loading increases. Electronic Publication     

Sol–gel synthesis, crystal structure, electronic properties and magnetic studies of B2+xAsxCo4−3xO7 (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 0.75) composites

Synthesis of B_2+xAs_xCo_4?3xO₇ (S1–S4: x = 0.0, 0.25, 0.50 and 0.75) composite oxides were performed by sol–gel method. The powder X-ray diffraction pattern and Reitveld refinement results revels that the samples are formed monoclinic phase with Z = 2 and space group P₂₁/m. Average crystallite size of the samples determined by Scherrer’s relation are found to be ~28–50 nm. The observed and calculated density values are determined and compared. Thermogram shows no phase transition in the range of 50–1,000 °C. The scanning electron micrographs show the morphology of the samples which are observed, the crystallites are rod like shape. The purity and the quantitative analysis were examined by the energy dispersive X-ray. The B–O and Co–O bonds of different sites show marginal variation in the samples, the circular valence charge density contour map of the Co and O in S1–S4 show partial covalent nature of Co–O. Based on the plane-wave density functional theory calculations on crystal structure for band structure and density of states of sample S1–S4 using CASTEP programme package show all the samples are conductor with no band gap. The magnetic moment plot in the range ±10 kG indicates the weak ferromagnetic behavior of the samples. The electron paramagnetic resonance line shapes of all four (S1–S4) samples are isotropic, Diffuse reflectance spectra of sample S1–S4 at room temperature show the band around 273 nm is ligand to metal (O^2? → Co²⁺) charge transfer transition and d–d transition around 570 nm, respectively.     

A Novel Expansion Mode of Polyoxovanadate Clusters: Synthesis,Crystal Structure and Properties of {[Cu(H2O)(C5H14N2)2]2[V16O38(Cl)]}·4(C5H16N2)

The new polyoxovanadate (POV) compound {[Cu(H₂O)(C₅H₁₄N₂)₂]₂[V₁₆O₃₈(Cl)]} · 4(C₅H₁₆N₂) was synthesized under solvothermal conditions and crystallizes in the tetragonal space group I4₁/amd with a = 13.8679(6), c = 45.558(2) Å, V = 8761.7(7) ų. The central structural motif is a {V₁₆O₃₈(Cl)} cluster constructed by condensation of 16 square‐pyramidal VO₅ polyhedra. The cluster hosts a central Cl^– anion. According to valence bond sum calculations, chemical analysis and magnetic properties the cluster anion may be formulated as [V₁₅^IVV^VO₃₈(Cl)]^12–, i.e., only one vanadium atom is not reduced. To the best of our knowledge this is the first reported {V₁₆O₃₈(X)} cluster in this V^IV:V^V ratio. The presence of the two different vanadium oxidation states is clearly seen in the IR spectrum. An unusual and hitherto never observed structural feature is the binding mode between the [Cu(H₂O)(C₅H₁₄N₂)₂]²⁺ complexes and the [V₁₅^IVV^VO₃₈(Cl)]^12– anion. The Cu²⁺ ion binds to a μ₂‐O atom of the cluster anion whereas in all other transition metal complex‐augmented POVs bonding between the transition metal cation and the anion occurs through terminal oxygen atoms of the POV. The magnetic properties are dominated by strong antiferromagnetic exchange interactions between the V⁴⁺ d¹ centers, whereas the Cu²⁺ d⁹ cations are magnetically decoupled from the cluster anion. Upon heating, the title compound decomposes in a complex fashion.