Magnetic properties of Co-doped SnO: first-principles calculations

Based on density functional theory calculations,the electronic and magnetic properties of Co-doped SnO are investigated.It is found that the spin-polarized state,with a magnetic moment of about 1.0 μ B per Co-dopant,is more favorable in energy than the non-spin-polarized state.Moreover,the origin of the ferromagnetism in Co-doped SnO is found to be the double exchange mechanism.Our results indicate that Co-doped SnO is a possible candidate of the p-type spintronics material.     

Density functional theory calculations of the metal-doped carbon nanostructures as hydrogen storage systems under electric fields: A review

This review covers structural, electronic, and hydrogen storage properties of carbon-based materials with doped metals under electric fields with different orientations and intensities, which are determined by density functional theory (DFT) simulations. The special application case is considered in investigating variations of electronic structures, binding, and hydrogen storage properties. External fields that are often met in practical applications lead to changes of the above properties.     

Magnetic properties of several potential rocksalt half-metallic ferromagnets based on the first-principles calculations

Several rocksalt Sr₄X₃N (X=,O, S, Se, and Te) are predicted to be potential half-metallic ferromagnets free of transition-metal and rare-earth elements by performing the first-principles calculations. Then their magnetic properties, such as the half metallicity and the crystal-cell magnetic moments are investigated. The Sr₄X₃N possibly have higher Curie temperatures and have more stable half metallicity than the Sr₄X₃C. Their crystal-cell magnetic moments are all 1.00 μ_B. The crystal-cell magnetic moments and the half metallicity arise mainly from the N ions. The main mechanism is the strong covalent interaction leading to the sp² hybridized orbitals in the Sr₄X₃N. Then two Sr-5s and three N-2p electrons enter into three sp² hybridized orbitals. Among these five electrons, four electrons are paired and one is unpaired, so there are three spin-up electrons and two spin-down electrons in these sp² hybridized orbitals.     

Li-N-H储氢体系热力学性质的第一性原理研究

基于密度泛函理论的第一性原理方法, 系统地研究了Li-N-H储氢过程中各个化合物的晶胞参数、生成焓和化学反应焓. 结果发现优化后的晶格参数与先前的理论和实验研究符合得很好. 通过计算Li₃N, LiH, LiNH₂和Li₂NH在298 K的生成焓分别为-168.7, -81.0, -173.0和-190.8 kJ/mol, 进而计算得到整个储氢反应过程在T=298 K时反应焓为78.5 kJ/mol H₂, 这和他人计算得到T=300 K的结果75.67 kJ/mol H₂非常接近. 最后, 给出了储氢两步反应过程分别在T=298 K时的反应焓, 这些结果都与实验和他人理论计算得到的数据符合较好. 关键词： 第一性原理 热力学性质 Li-N-H 体系 反应焓     

Comparisons between adsorption and diffusion of alkali,alkaline earth metal atoms on silicene and those on silicane:Insight from first-principles calculations

The adsorption and diffusion behaviors of alkali and alkaline-earth metal atoms on silicane and silicene are both investigated by using a first-principles method within the frame of density functional theory.Silicane is staler against the metal adatoms than silicene.Hydrogenation makes the adsorption energies of various metal atoms considered in our calculations on silicane significantly lower than those on silicene.Similar diffusion energy barriers of alkali metal atoms on silicane and silicene could be observed.However,the diffusion energy barriers of alkali-earth metal atoms on silicane are essentially lower than those on silicene due to the small structural distortion and weak interaction between metal atoms and silicane substrate.Combining the adsorption energy with the diffusion energy barriers,it is found that the clustering would occur when depositing metal atoms on perfect hydrogenated silicene with relative high coverage.In order to avoid forming a metal cluster,we need to remove the hydrogen atoms from the silicane substrate to achieve the defective silicane.Our results are helpful for understanding the interaction between metal atoms and silicene-based two-dimensional materials.     

Rotation of hydrogen molecules during the dissociative adsorption on the Mg(0001) surface: a first-principles study

Using first-principles calculations,we systematically study the potential energy surfaces and dissociation processes of the hydrogen molecule on the Mg(0001) surface.It is found that during the dissociative adsorption process with the minimum energy barrier,the hydrogen molecule first orients perpendicularly,and then rotates tobecome parallel to the surface.It is also found that the orientation of the hydrogen molecule in the transition state is neither perpendicular nor parallel to the surface.Most importantly,we find that the rotation causes a reduction of the calculated dissociation energy barrier for the hydrogen molecule.The underlying electronic mechanism for the rotation of the hydrogen molecule is also discussed in the paper.     

Prediction of scandium tetraboride from first-principles calculations:Crystal structures,phase stability,mechanical properties,and hardness

Using the evolutionary methodology for crystal structure prediction, we have predicted the orthorhombic Cmcm and Pnma phases for ScB_4. The earlier proposed Cr B_4~-, Fe B_4~-, Mn B_4~-, and Re P_4~- type structures for ScB_4 are excluded.It is first discovered that the Cmcm phase transforms to the Pnma phase at about 18 GPa. Moreover, both phases are dynamically and mechanically stable. The large bulk modulus, shear modulus, and Young's modulus of the two phases make it an optimistic low compressible material. Moreover, the strong covalent bonding nature of ScB_4 is confirmed by the ELF analysis. The strong covalent bonding contributes greatly to its stability.     

β-PtO2: Phononic,thermodynamic, and elastic properties derived from first-principles calculations

β-PtO₂ is a useful transition metal dioxide, but its fundamental thermodynamic and elastic properties remain unexplored. Using first-principles calculations, we systematically studied the structure, phonon, thermodynamic and elastic properties of β-PtO₂. The lattice dynamics and structural stability of β-PtO₂ under pressure were studied using the phonon spectra and vibrational density of states. The vibrational frequencies of the optical modes of β-PtO₂ increase with elevating pressure; this result is comparable with the available experimental data. Then, the heat capacities and their pressure responses were determined based on the phonon calculations. The pressure dependence of the Debye temperature was studied, and the results were compared in two distinct aspects. The elastic moduli of β-PtO₂ were estimated through the Voigt–Reuss–Hill approximation. The bulk modulus of β-PtO₂ increases linearly with pressure, but the shear modulus is nearly independent of pressure. Our study revealed that the elastic stiffness coefficients C₄₄, C₅₅ and C₆₆ play a primary role in the slow variation of the shear modulus.     

Uniaxial strain-modulated electronic structures of CdX (X = S,Se, Te) from first-principles calculations:A comparison between bulk and nanowires

Using first-principles calculations based on density functional theory, we systematically study the structural deformation and electronic properties of wurtzite CdX(X = S, Se, Te) bulk and nanowires(NWs) under uniaxial [0001] strain. Due to the intrinsic shrinking strain induced by surface contraction, large NWs with {10ˉ10} facets have heavy hole(HH)-like valence band maximum(VBM) states, while NWs with {11ˉ20} facets have crystal hole(CH)-like VBM states. The external uniaxial strain induces an HH–CH band crossing at a critical strain for both bulk and NWs, resulting in nonlinear variations in band gap and hole effective mass at VBM. Unlike the bulk phase, the critical strain of NWs highly depends on the character of the VBM state in the unstrained case, which is closely related to the size and facet of NWs. The critical strain of bulk is at compressive range, while the critical strain of NWs with HH-like and CH-like VBM appears at compressive and tensile strain, respectively. Due to the HH–CH band crossing, the charge distribution of the VBM state in NWs can also be tuned by the external uniaxial strain. Despite the complication of the VBM state, the electron effective mass at conduction band minimum(CBM) of NWs shows a linear relation with the CBM–HH energy difference, the same as the bulk material.     

Segregation of alloying atoms at a tilt symmetric grain boundary in tungsten and their strengthening and embrittling effects

We investigate the segregation behavior of alloying atoms （Sr, Th, In, Cd, Ag, Sc, Au, Zn, Cu, Mn, Cr, and Ti） near Z3 （ 111 ） [1]-0] tilt symmetric grain boundary （GB） in tungsten and their effects on the intergranular embrittlement by performing first-principles calculations. The calculated segregation energies suggest that Ag, Au, Cd, In, Sc, Sr, Th, and Ti prefer to occupy the site in the mirror plane of the GB, while Cu, Cr, Mn, and Zn intend to locate at the first layer nearby the GB core. The calculated strengthening energies predict Sr, Th, In, Cd, Ag, Sc, Au, Ti, and Zn act as embrittlers while Cu, Cr, and Mn act as cohesion enhancers. The correlation of the alloying atom＇s metal radius with strengthening energy is strong enough to predict the strengthening and embrittling behavior of alloying atoms; that is, the alloying atom with larger metal radius than W acts as an embrittler and the one with smaller metal radius acts as a cohesion enhancer.     

Nb掺杂对Mo2FeB2弹性、硬度和电子结构影响的第一性原理计算

Mo₂FeB₂具有耐高温、耐磨、高强度,是一种良好的硼基金属陶瓷材料,在模具领域有很广阔的应用前景.本文采用第一性原理计算的方法,研究了Nb元素掺杂Mo₂FeB₂合金的结构稳定性、弹性、硬度和电子结构.结合能和生成焓的计算结果表明,Nb在Mo₂FeB₂中更容易占据Fe位置,并且在Fe位掺Nb的Mo₂FeB₂比在Mo位处掺Nb具有更好的力学性能.此外,计算结果还表明,Nb掺杂可以提高Mo₂FeB₂的剪切模量、杨氏模量、体积模量和硬度,但塑性略有下降,合适的掺杂浓度应为2.5 at.%.电子结构计算结果表明,Nb掺杂Mo₂FeB₂力学性能的提高可归因于Nb-B共价键的形成.     

Interfacial properties of 2D WS2 on SiO2 substrate from X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and first-principles calculations

Two-dimensional (2D) WS₂ films were deposited on SiO₂ wafers, and the related interfacial properties were investigated by high-resolution X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and first-principles calculations. Using the direct (indirect) method, the valence band offset (VBO) at monolayer WS₂/SiO₂ interface was found to be 3.97 eV (3.86 eV), and the conduction band offset (CBO) was 2.70 eV (2.81 eV). Furthermore, the VBO (CBO) at bulk WS₂/SiO₂ interface is found to be about 0.48 eV (0.33 eV) larger due to the interlayer orbital coupling and splitting of valence and conduction band edges. Therefore, the WS₂/SiO₂ heterostructure has a Type I energy-band alignment. The band offsets obtained experimentally and theoretically are consistent except the narrower theoretical bandgap of SiO₂. The theoretical calculations further reveal a binding energy of 75 meV per S atom and the totally separated partial density of states, indicating a weak interaction and negligible Fermi level pinning effect between WS₂ monolayer and SiO₂ surface. Our combined experimental and theoretical results provide proof of the sufficient VBOs and CBOs and weak interaction in 2D WS₂/SiO₂ heterostructures.     

Uniaxial stress influence on lattice, band gap and optical properties of n-type ZnO:first-principles calculations

The lattice, the band gap and the optical properties of n-type ZnO under uniaxial stress are investigated by first-principles calculations. The results show that the lattice constants change linearly with stress. Band gaps are broadened linearly as the uniaxial compressive stress increases. The change of band gap for n-type ZnO comes mainly from the contribution of stress in the c-axis direction, and the reason for band gap of n-type ZnO changing with stress is also explained. The calculated results of optical properties reveal that the imaginary part of the dielectric function decreases with the increase of uniaxial compressive stress at low energy. However, when the energy is higher than 4.0 eV, the imaginary part of the dielectric function increases with the increase of stress and a blueshift appears. There are two peaks in the absorption spectrum in an energy range of 4.0-13.0 eV. The stress coefficient of the band gap of n-type ZnO is larger than that of pure ZnO, which supplies the theoretical reference value for the modulation of the band gap of doped ZnO.     

第一性原理研究Hf对ZrCoH3放氢的影响

过渡金属元素Hf被设计成通过占据Co原子、Zr原子和间隙位点来添加到ZrCoH₃中.通过第一性原理计算研究了Hf对ZrCoH₃放氢的影响.发现用Hf掺杂会使ZrCoH₃不稳定,导致氢离解能(E_d)、Co-H平均单位键长的键序(SBO_Co-H)降低,顺序为Zr₁₆Co₁₆H₄₈> Zr₁₆Co₁₆HfH₄₈> Zr₁₆Co₁₅HfH₄₈> Zr₁₅Co₁₆HfH₄₈.理论研究表明在ZrCoH₃-Hf体系中,较弱的Co-H共价键相互作用、金属特性和Hf-H键的形成都有利于提高ZrCoH₃的放氢能力. Hf原子优先占据间隙位,但这对氢离解能影响很小,氢离解能与位置...     

Adsorptions and diffusions of carbon atoms on the surface and in the subsurface of Co （200）： A first-principles density-functional study

First-principles calculations based on density functional theory are used to investigate the adsorptions and diffusions of carbon atoms on the surface and in the subsurface of Co(200). The preferred site for the carbon atom on the surface is the hollow site, and the preferred site in the subsurface is the octahedral site. There is charge transfer from the surface to the adsorbed carbon atom, and for the most favorable adsorbed structure the charge transfer is largest. Moreover, the energy barriers for the diffusions of carbon atoms on the surface and from the surface into the subsurface and then back to the surface are calculated in detail. The results indicate that the energy barrier for the diffusion of carbon atoms on the surface is comparable to that from the subsurface to the surface. The results imply that both the direct surface nucleation and the surface segregation from Co bulk can be observed in the chemical vapor deposition growth of graphene on Co(200)substrate, which can gain a new insight into the growth mechanism of graphene.     

Effect of C doping on the structural and electronic properties of LiFePO₄:A first-principles investigation

Using first-principles calculations within the generalized gradient approximation (GGA) +U framework, we investigate the effect of C doping on the structural and electronic properties of LiFePO 4 . The calculated formation energies indicate that C doped at O sites is energetically favoured, and that C dopants prefer to occupy O 3 sites. The band gap of the C doped material is much narrow than that of the undoped one, indicating better electro- conductive properties. To maintain charge balance, the valence of the Fe nearest to C appears as Fe 3+ , and it will be helpful to the hopping of electrons.     

反常霍尔效应理论的研究进展

文章介绍了在铁磁性材料中反常霍尔效应的发现及其机制研究的历史;阐述了反常霍尔效应理论研究最近取得的重大进展,即倒空间中布洛赫态的贝里曲率(规范场)特性决定了霍尔电导率;同时指出,建立系统地解释反常霍尔效应机制的理论仍然是一个挑战性的任务.     

Dissociations of O2 molecules on ultrathin Pb(111) films: first-principles plane wave calculations

Using first-principles calculations, we systematically study the dissociations of O₂ molecules on different ultrathin Pb(111) films. According to our previous work revealing the molecular adsorption precursor states for O₂, we further explore why there are two nearly degenerate adsorption states on Pb(111) ultrathin films, but no precursor adsorption states existing at all on Mg(0001) and Al(111) surfaces. The reason is concluded to be the different surface electronic structures. For the O₂ dissociation, we consider both the reaction channels from gas-like and molecularly adsorbed O₂ molecules. We find that the energy barrier for O₂ dissociation from the molecular adsorption precursor states is always smaller than that from O₂ gas. The most energetically favorable dissociation process is found to be the same on different Pb(111) films, and the energy barriers are found to be influenced by the quantum size effects of Pb(111) films.