Opto-electronic properties of blue phosphorene oxide with and without oxygen vacancies

Blue phosphorene is an attractive nanomaterial that exhibits some remarkable optoelectronic properties. Various studies have verified its ability to adsorb gaseous compounds and, in particular, to dissociate O₂, forming covalent bonds between phosphorus and oxygen atoms. These covalent bonds could be the reason behind the oxidation reaction that affects the blue phosphorene in normal room conditions. Theoretically, it has been demonstrated that the blue phosphorene oxide (BPO) is just as stable as the blue phosphorene. Given that metallic oxides are widely used as catalyzers and gas sensors, this opens the possibility of the BPO being presented as a gas sensor as well. For all the above, in this work the optoelectronic properties of BPO were studied, along with the generation of the oxygen vacancies. The investigation was performed within the density functional theory (DFT). In the study of the oxygen vacancy, the formation energy was calculated, and the results are similar to the formation energies of oxygen vacancies in other known oxides. It was found that the BPO with a single vacancy has a favorable energetic stability. The characterization of the vacancy is achieved using the electronic structure and the optical response. Additionally, the analysis of the adsorption of a hydrogen atom on the BPO, and the subsequent formation of hydroxide is presented.     

Structures and dynamic behavior of catalyst model surfaces characterized by modern physical techniques

This paper reports the visualization of mobile pyridine on the terraces and site-specific adsorption of pyridine on the particular step sites on a TiO₂(110)-(1×1) surface by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), the anisotropic structure and reactivity of molybdenum oxides dispersed on TiO₂(110)-(1×1) characterized by polarization-dependent total-reflection fluorescence x-ray absorption fine structure (PTRF-EXAFS), and the energy dispersive and real-time images of Au mesh on Si(111) recorded by a new x-ray photoemission electron miscroscopy (XPEEM).     

Sulfur-doped LaNiO3 perovskite oxides with enriched anionic vacancies and manipulated orbital occupancy facilitating oxygen electrode reactions in lithium-oxygen batteries

The rational design of effective bifunctional catalysts with enhanced activity toward oxygen reduction reaction and oxygen evolution reaction is of significance to develop high-performance lithium-oxygen (Li–O₂) batteries. Herein, sulfur-doped LaNiO₃ nanoparticles are elaborately synthesized, and their catalytic activity toward oxygen redox reactions in Li–O₂ batteries is comprehensively studied. As confirmed by the density functional theory calculations and experimental results, the substitution of oxygen atoms by sulfur atoms with lower Pauling electronegativity can enhance the covalent feature of bonds, thus increasing electrical conductivity of catalyst. In addition, abundant oxygen vacancies created after sulfur doping are capable of providing concentrated active sites. Simultaneously, sulfur dopants boost the hybridization between Ni 3d orbital and O 2p orbital and increase the covalency of Ni–O bonds due to the increase of Ni³⁺ with the near-unity occupancy of the e_g orbital, thereby increasing the adsorption strength of oxygen-containing intermediates on the surface. Eventually, lowered reaction energy barriers and accelerated reaction kinetics of oxygen electrode reactions are realized, contributing to the optimized electrochemical performance of Li–O₂ battery. The Li–O₂ battery based on sulfur-doped LaNiO₃ with the optimized S-doping level of 2.89 wt% (marked as S_2.89 wt%-LNO) delivers a high specific discharge capacity of 24067 mAh/g, an ultralow overpotential of 0.37 V and extended life of 347 cycles.     

Decoration of nitrogen vacancies by oxygen atoms in boron nitride nanotubes

Decoration of nitrogen vacancies by oxygen atoms has been studied by near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) around B K-edge in several boron nitride (BN) structures, including bamboo-like and multi-walled BN nanotubes. Breaking of B-N bonds and formation of nitrogen vacancies under low-energy ion bombardment reduces oxidation resistance of BN structures and promotes an efficient oxygen-healing mechanism, in full agreement with some recent theoretical predictions. The formation of mixed O-B-N and B-O bonds is clearly identified by well-resolved peaks in NEXAFS spectra of excited boron atoms.     

Structural analysis of metal ion ligation to nucleotides and nucleic acids using pulsed EPR spectroscopy

Metal ions play key structural and functional roles in many nucleic acid systems, particularly as required cofactors for many catalytic RNA molecules (ribozymes). We apply the pulsed EPR technologies of electron spin-echo envelope modulation and electron spin-echo-electron nuclear double resonance to the structural analysis of the paramagnetic metal ion Mn(II) bound to nucleotides and nucleic acids. We demonstrate that pulsed EPR, supplemented with specific isotope labeling, can characterize ligation to nucleotide base nitrogens, outer-sphere interactions with phosphate groups, distances to sites of specific (2)H atom labels, and the hydration level of the metal ion. These techniques allow a comprehensive structural analysis of the mononucleotide model system MnGMP. Spectra of phenylalanine-specific transfer RNA from budding yeast and of the hammerhead ribozyme demonstrate the applicability of the methods to larger, structured RNA systems. This suite of experiments opens the way to detailed structural characterization of specifically bound metal ions in a variety of ribozymes and other nucleic acids of biological interest.     

Structural and magnetic properties of double perovskite oxide Ba2CeSbO6

The structural and magnetic properties of a double perovskite oxide Ba₂CeSbO₆ (BCSO) synthesized by solid state reaction technique have been investigated. The Rietveld refinement of the X-ray diffraction pattern of BCSO suggests the monoclinic crystal structure at room temperature with P2₁/n space group. The vibrational properties of BCSO are investigated by the Fourier transform Infrared and Raman spectroscopy. The Raman spectrum confirms the B-site ordering of cations in BCSO. The temperature dependent magnetic susceptibility data in the field cooled mode show the anti-ferromagnetic behaviour of BCSO below 59 K. The core level X-ray photoemission (XPS) spectrum of Ce-3d and Sb-3d states confirms the presence of multiple oxidation states of these cations. The presence of both the Ce³⁺ and Ce⁴⁺ ions in BCSO gives the 4f^4−δ intermediate valence state which may reduce the effective magnetic moment with respect to the system having single valence Ce³⁺ ion.     

Structural,magnetic and transport properties of 2D structured perovskite oxychalcogenides

We have been looking for new potential thermoelectric materials in the family of 2D structured perovskite oxychalcogenides containing [Cu₂Ch₂]²⁻ blocks (Ch = S or Se). Using high temperature syntheses, a new oxyselenide Sr₂CuFeO₃Se has been isolated and its structure has been compared to the isotypes sulfides, Ca₂CuFeO₃S and Sr₂CuFeO₃S, prepared by the same technique. By combining powder XRD and TEM analyses their composition and structure were analyzed. They all three crystallize in the Sr₂CuGaO₃S-type structure, with only the oxyselenide showing a Fe deficiency which is related to the stacking faults evidenced by high resolution TEM. Transport and magnetic properties of the samples have been studied; especially their electrical resistivity is characterized by high values in the range from 1 to 10 kΩ cm at 300 K. Thermoelectric potential of these materials is also discussed.     

Optical properties of oxygen vacancies in germanium oxides: quantum chemical modeling of photoexcitation and photoluminescence

Photoabsorption and photoluminescence properties of single and double oxygen vacancy (OV and DOV) defects in quartz-like germanium oxide have been investigated by high-level ab initio calculations. It has been found that photoabsorption for these systems occurs at lower energies as compared to the analogous defects in SiO(2). For OV, the lowest electronic excitations with high oscillator strengths have energies of 6.7-7.0 eV, whereas for DOV, the lowest-energy photoabsorption band is calculated to be in the range of 5.5-5.9 eV. Significant geometry relaxation and large Stokes shift are inherent for these excited states and, as a result, their photoluminescence bands are predicted to peak at 3.1-3.3 eV for OV and at 2.6 eV for DOV. The double oxygen vacancy is suggested to be the most suitable candidate for generating bright blue photoluminescence observed experimentally for substoichiometric quartz-like GeO(2) nanowires, as the calculated optical properties of DOV are in close agreement with the features found in experiment.     

The notion of structure in modern chemistry. II. Structural variety of condensed phases. Generalized crystal chemistry

The structural variety of condensed phases with crystalline (c) or quasicrystalline (q) order or complete/partial disorder (d) is represented as a triangular diagram. The c, q, or d characteristic refers to one of the three dimensions so that the type of condensed phase is denoted by three symbols (ccc is the ideal crystal; cqd is a phase where disorder is combined with crystalline and quasicrystalline orders). Comparative studies of various condensed phases with data extrapolation to other states is termed generalized crystal chemistry. M. V. Lomonosov Moscow State University. Translated fromZhurnal Strukturnoi Khimii, Vol. 35, No. 3, pp. 99–102, May–June, 1994. Translated by L. Smolina     

Intercalation processes influence the structure and electrophysical properties of lithium-conducting compounds having defect perovskite structure

The structural features and electrophysical properties of lithium-conducting compounds having defect perovskite structure based on Li_0.5La_0.5Nb₂O₆ and Li_0.5La_0.5TiO₃ were studied using X-ray diffraction and synchrotron analyses, potentiometry, and complex impedance spectroscopy. Intercalated lithium was found to differently influence ion conductance in titanium- and niobium-containing materials. This difference was found to arise from the structural features of the materials. The systems studied have high chemical diffusion coefficients of lithium (D _Li⁺ = 1 × 10⁻⁶ cm²/s for Li_0.5La_0.5Nb₂O₆ and D _Li⁺ = 3.3 × 10⁻⁷ cm²/s for Li_0.5La_0.5TiO₃).     

Structural and oxygen binding properties of dimeric horse myoglobin

Myoglobin (Mb) stores dioxygen in muscles, and is a fundamental model protein widely used in molecular design. The presence of dimeric Mb has been known for more than forty years, but its structural and oxygen binding properties remain unknown. From an X-ray crystallographic analysis at 1.05 ? resolution, we found that dimeric metMb exhibits a domain-swapped structure with two extended α-helices. Each new long α-helix is formed by the E and F helices and the EF-loop of the original monomer, and as a result the proximal and distal histidines of the heme originate from different protomers. The heme orientation in the dimer was in the normal mode as in the monomer, but regulated faster from the reverse to normal orientation. The dimer possessed the oxygen binding property, although it exhibited a slightly higher oxygen binding affinity (～1.4 fold) compared to the monomer and showed no cooperativity for oxygen binding. The oxygen binding rate constant (k(on)) of the dimer ((14.0 ± 0.7) × 10(6) M(-1) s(-1)) was similar to that of the monomer, whereas the oxygen dissociation rate constant (k(off)) of the dimer (8 ± 1 s(-1)) was smaller than that of the monomer (12 ± 1 s(-1)). We attribute the similar k(on) values to their active site structures being similar, whereas the faster regulation of the heme orientation and the smaller k(off) in the dimer are presumably due to the slight change in the active site structure and/or more rigid structure compared to the monomer. These results show that domain swapping may be a new tool for protein engineering.     

Structural aspects and defect chemistry in In2O3

The C-type rare earth structure of In₂O₃ is compared with the fluorite structure. The stability of the structure is discussed based on DTA and X-ray work and electron microscopy. Ordering of defects does not take place, so that defect chemistry can be formulated for isolated defects in nonstoichiometric In₂O₃. The influence of the incorporation of aliovalent cations into the In₂O₃ host lattice is discussed and a defect model is suggested.     

Structural and tribological properties of polytetrafluoroethylene composites in atomic oxygen environment

Effects of atomic oxygen (AO) irradiation on the structural and tribological behaviors of glass fiber (GF) and MoS₂ filled polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) composites were investigated in a ground‐based simulation facility, in which the average energy of AO was about 5 eV and the flux was 5.0 × 10¹⁵ cm^–2 s^–1. The structural changes were characterized by XPS and attenuated total‐reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and the tribological changes were evaluated by friction and wear tests and SEM analysis of the worn surfaces. It was found that AO irradiation induced the degradation of PTFE molecular chains, and the primary erosion mechanism is collisionally induced rather than chemically induced. The addition of MoS₂ filler significantly increased the AO resistance of PTFE composites. Friction and wear tests indicated that GF and MoS₂ improved the tribological properties of materials before and after AO irradiation. Short GF and MoS₂ exhibited a good synergistic effect for improving the AO resistant and tribological properties of PTFE material. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Structural,elastic, electronic and optical properties of the cubic perovskite BiAlO3

We report first-principles study of structural, elastic, electronic and optical properties of the cubic perovskite-type BiAlO₃ using the pseudopotential plane waves method within the local density approximation. The calculated structural parameters are in good agreement with previous calculations. The elastic constants and their pressure dependence are calculated using the static finite strain technique. A linear pressure dependence of the elastic stiffness is found. Band structures show that BiAlO₃ has an indirect band gap between the occupied O 2p and unoccupied Bi 6p states. The density of states and Mulliken charge populations analysis shows that Al–O and Bi–O bonds are covalent with a strong hybridization. The variation of the gap versus pressure is well fitted to a quadratic function and an indirect to direct band gap transition occurs at 15.5 GPa. Furthermore, in order to understand the optical properties of BiAlO₃, the dielectric function, absorption coefficient, refractive index, extinction coefficient, optical reflectivity and electron energy loss are calculated for radiation up to 30 eV.     

UV and visible Raman studies of oxygen vacancies in rare-earth-doped ceria

Surface properties of rare-earth (RE) doped ceria (RE = Sm, Gd, Pr, and Tb) were investigated by UV (325 nm) and visible (514, 633, and 785 nm) Raman spectroscopy, combined with UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectra techniques. It was found that the optical absorption property of samples, the wavelength of detecting laser line, and the inhomogeneous distribution of the dopants significantly affected the obtained surface information, namely, the peak intensity and shape at ca. 460 and 570 cm(-1), as well as the observed oxygen vacancy concentration (A(570)/A(460)). The UV laser line detected the surface information of RE-doped ceria and disclosed the presence of many oxygen vacancies in the samples. The visible laser lines penetrated into the inner layer of the Sm- or Gd-doped CeO(2) and reflected the whole information of samples because of their weak absorptions of the visible laser. However, the Pr- or Tb-doped CeO(2) absorbed visible light strongly; thus, the laser can only determine the outer surface information of the sample.     

O<Subscript>2</Subscript>-probe EPR as a method for characterization of surface oxygen vacancies in ceria-based catalysts

Catalytic activity of ceria-based systems is essentially related to the oxygen storage/release characteristics of the surface and, therefore, to the properties of the oxygen vacancies generated upon reduction of CeO₂. EPR analysis of the superoxide species formed upon low temperature oxygen chemisorption on this type of systems is shown to be a very powerful method to characterize such defects. The present work revises results mainly obtained in the authors’ laboratory on this topic and shows the main physicochemical properties of such superoxide species. Situations of practical interest in the field of heterogeneous catalysis are analysed. These include the analysis of defects formed on pure CeO₂, as well as their chemical modification by NO chemisorption or in the presence of chlorine impurities, typically present in supported metal catalysts. Additionally, the characterization of two-dimensional ceria structures in alumina-supported ceria systems with high practical interest is shown to be uniquely provided by this EPR-based method.     

Enhancement of oxygen vacancies and solar photocatalytic activity of zinc oxide by incorporation of nonmetal

B-doped ZnO and N-doped ZnO powders have been synthesized by mechanochemical method and characterized by TG-DTA, XRD, SEM-EDX, XPS, UV-visible and photoluminescence (PL) spectra. X-ray diffraction data suggests the hexagonal wurtzite structure for modified ZnO crystallites and the incorporation of nonmetal expands the lattice constants of ZnO. The room temperature PL spectra suggest more number of oxygen vacancies exist in nonmetal-doped ZnO than that of undoped zinc oxide. XPS analysis shows the substitution of some of the O atoms of ZnO by nonmetal atoms. Solar photocatalytic activity of B-doped ZnO, N-doped ZnO and undoped ZnO was compared by means of oxidative photocatalytic degradation (PCD) of Bisphenol A (BPA). B-doped ZnO showed better solar PCD efficiency as compare to N-doped ZnO and undoped ZnO. The PCD of BPA follows first order reaction kinetics. The detail mechanism of PCD of Bisphenol A was proposed with the identification of intermediates such as hydroquinone, benzene-1,2,4-triol and 4-(2-hydroxypropan-2-yl) phenol.     

Structural and dynamic properties of the polyanionic hydrides SrAlGeH and BaAlGeH

The quaternary aluminium hydrides SrAlGeH and BaAlGeH were synthesized from either hydrogenating the intermetallic AlB₂-type precursors SrAlGe and BaAlGe or reacting SrH₂ with a mixture of Al and Ge in the presence of pressurized hydrogen. Their structures were characterized by X-ray and neutron powder diffraction of the corresponding deuterides. The compounds crystallize with the trigonal SrAlSiH structure type (space group P3m1, Z = 1, a = 4.2435(2) and 4.3450(2) Å, c = 4.9710(3) and 5.2130(4) Å for SrAlGeH and BaAlGeH, respectively) and feature a two-dimensional polyanion [AlGeH]²⁻ which represents a corrugated hexagon layer built from three-bonded Al and Ge atoms. H is terminally attached to Al. Polyanions [AlGeH]²⁻ are electron precise and, according to electronic structure calculations, the quaternary hydrides display band gaps with sizes between 0.7 and 0.8 eV. Infrared and inelastic neutron scattering spectroscopy show Al–H stretching and bending mode frequencies at around 1250 and 870 cm⁻¹, respectively. SrAlGeH and BaAlGeH are thermally stable up to at least 500 °C. When exposed to air the hydrides decompose rapidly to amorphous, orange colored materials.     

Electrical properties and defect chemistry of TiO2 single crystal. I. Electrical conductivity

The present work reports the electrical properties of high-purity single-crystal TiO(2) from measurements of the electrical conductivity in the temperature range 1073-1323 K and in gas phases of controlled oxygen activities in the range 10(-13) to 10(5) Pa. The effect of the oxygen activity on the electrical conductivity indicates that oxygen vacancies are the predominant defects in the studied ranges of temperature and oxygen activities. The electronic and ionic lattice charge compensations were revealed at low and high oxygen activities, respectively. The determined semiconducting quantities include: the activation energy of the electrical conductivity (E(sigma) = 125-205 kJ.mol(-1)), the activation energies of the electrical conductivity components associated with electrons (E(n) = 218 kJ.mol(-1)), electron holes (E(p) = 34 kJ.mol(-1)), and ions (E(i) = 227 kJ.mol(-1)), and the enthalpy of motion for electronic defects (DeltaH(m) = 4 kJ/mol). The electrical conductivity data are considered in terms of the components related to electrons, holes, and ions. The obtained data allow the determination of the n-p demarcation line in terms of temperature and oxygen activities. The band gap determined from the electronic component of the electrical conductivity is 3.1 eV.