First-principles study of transport properties of endohedral Li@C20 metallofullerene

The transport properties of the endohedral Li@C₂₀ metallofullerene are studied using density functional non-equilibrium Green’s function method. The equilibrium conductance of Li@C₂₀ metallofullerene becomes larger than that of the empty C₂₀ fullerene molecule. The I–V curve under low-bias voltage shows the characteristic of metallic behavior; another, the novel negative differential resistance behavior is also observed. It is found that the doping effect of Li atom significantly changes the transport properties of C₂₀ fullerene.     

Conductance and EPR study of the endohedral fullerene Li@C60

Thin films and bulk samples of endohedral fullerenes Li@C₆₀ are studied using current-voltage (I-V) measurements and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). Electrical measurements show a linear behaviour for the I-V curves and give an average resistivity of ca. 1.5 kΩcm for thin Li@C₆₀ films deposited in vacuum, four orders of magnitude lower than C₆₀ samples. A drastic effect on the conductance, lowering it to the values typical for C₆₀, is observed when the Li@C₆₀ samples are exposed to ambient atmosphere. No additional paramagnetic centres (PCs) are found for the Li@C₆₀ compared to C₆₀ that can be related to the formation of dimers or trimers of the endohedral fullerene molecules. However, the presence of the Li atoms in the fullerene cages contributes to a change of the spin-spin and spin-lattice relaxation times. The spin-lattice relaxation time becomes four orders of magnitude longer compared to the spin-spin relaxation time.     

Na掺杂对C20H20分子的电子输运性质影响

利用第一性原理密度泛函理论和非平衡格林函数方法研究了Na@C₂₀H₂₀分子的电子输运性质. 计算结果显示它的I-V曲线在偏圧 V范围内表现出了较好的线性特性, 出现了明显的负微分电阻现象, 并得到其平衡电导为0.0101G₀. 通过与Li@C₂₀H₂₀分子对比分析, 发现掺杂Na不仅能提高C₂₀H₂₀分子的电子输运能力, 而且 关键词： 20H₂₀分子')" href="#">Na@C₂₀H₂₀分子 电子输运 负微分电阻     

Ab initio investigations of the charge transport properties of endohedral M@C20（M=Na and K）metallofullerenes

Using density functional theory and quantum transport calculations based on nonequilibum Green’s function formalism,we investigate the charge transport properties of endohedral M@C 20 (M=Na and K) metallofullerenes.Our results show that the conductance of C 20 fullerene can be obviously improved by insertion of alkali atom at its centre.Both linear and nonlinear sections are found on the I-V curves of the Au-M@C 20-Au two-probe systems.The novel negative differential resistance behaviour is also observed in Na@C 20 molecule but not in K@C 20.     

Density functional calculations on the geometric structure and properties of the 3d transition metal atom doped endohedral fullerene M@C20F20（M=Sc-Ni）

This paper uses the generalised gradient approximation based on density functional theory to analyse the geometric structure and properties of the 3d transition metal atom doped endohedral fullerene M@C20F20(M=Sc-Ni).The geometric optimization shows that the cage centre is the most stable position for M,forming the structure named as M@C 20 F 20-4.The inclusion energy,zero-point energy,and energy gap calculations tell us that Ni@C 20 F 20-4 should be thermodynamically and kinetically stablest.M@C 20 F 20-4(M = Sc-Co) possesses high magnetic moments varied from 1 to 6 μ B,while Ni@C 20 F 20-4 is nonmagnetic.The Ni-C bond in Ni@C 20 F 20-4 contains both the covalent and ionic characters.     

内掺过渡金属富勒烯衍生物Ni@C20H20几何结构、成键和电磁性质的密度泛函计算研究

采用密度泛函理论中的广义梯度近似对Ni@C₂₀H₂₀的几何结构、成键和电磁性质进行密度泛函计算研究.结构优化发现位于偏离笼子中心三种位置处的Ni原子优化之后均回到笼子中心.结合能和能隙分析表明C₂₀H₂₀的中心位置是Ni原子热力学和动力学最稳定的位置.成键分析表明：Ni原子位于C₂₀H₂₀中心时,和C原子之间几乎没有相互作用,保持自己的孤立状态.电磁分析表明：原子磁矩为2关键词： 20H₂₀')" href="#">C₂₀H₂₀ 20H₂₀')" href="#">Ni@C₂₀H₂₀ 几何结构 成键 电磁性质 密度泛函理论     

Structure and electronic properties of Hn@C20 molecule

Density functional theory has been employed to optimize the structure of endohedral doped C₂₀ fullerene. We have also investigated electronic properties. We have found that C₂₀ cage can accommodate up to 8 hydrogen atoms. Some hydrogen atoms get chemisorbed on the inner surface of C₂₀ cage and form C-H bond. Structural deformation is found to increase with increase in H-atoms. From the analysis of electronic properties, we observe that due to endohedral doping of hydrogen atoms inside C₂₀, H-atoms acquire net negative charge by accepting electrons and fullerene molecules acquire positive charge by donating electrons to H-atoms. For endohedral complexes where H₃ triangular molecule formation takes place, the nature of net charge transfer changes, i.e. fractional electronic charge is transferred from H-atoms to fullerene. C₂₀ doped with odd number of H-atoms should be more reactive compared to the even number case. Most of the present results are similar to those of endohedral C₆₀.     

Transport properties and mechanism of C60 coupled to carbon nanotube electrode

By applying non-equilibrium Green's functions in combination with density-functional theory, we investigate electronic transport properties of C₆₀ coupled to carbon nanotubes and Li electrodes. The results show that electronic transport properties of CNT-C₆₀-CNT and Li-C₆₀-Li systems are completely different. Nonlinear I-V characteristic, varistor-type behavior and negative differential resistance (NDR) phenomenon are observed when electrodes are carbon nanotubes. We discuss the mechanism of I-V characteristics of CNT-C₆₀-CNT systems in details. Our results suggest conductance, energy level of Frontier molecular orbitals, energy gap between HOMO and LUMO, the coupling between molecular orbitals and electrodes are all playing critical roles in electronic transport properties.     

Adsorption of SO2 on Li atoms deposited on MgO (1 0 0) surface: DFT calculations

The adsorption of sulfur dioxide molecule (SO₂) on Li atom deposited on the surfaces of metal oxide MgO (1 0 0) on both anionic and defect (F_s-center) sites located on various geometrical defects (terrace, edge and corner) has been studied using density functional theory (DFT) in combination with embedded cluster model. The adsorption energy (E_ads) of SO₂ molecule (S-atom down as well as O-atom down) in different positions on both of O⁻² and F_s sites is considered. The spin density (SD) distribution due to the presence of Li atom is discussed. The geometrical optimizations have been done for the additive materials and MgO substrate surfaces (terrace, edge and corner). The oxygen vacancy formation energies have been evaluated for MgO substrate surfaces. The ionization potential (IP) for defect free and defect containing of the MgO surfaces has been calculated. The adsorption properties of SO₂ are analyzed in terms of the E_ads, the electron donation (basicity), the elongation of S-O bond length and the atomic charges on adsorbed materials. The presence of the Li atom increases the catalytic effect of the anionic O⁻² site of MgO substrate surfaces (converted from physisorption to chemisorption). On the other hand, the presence of the Li atom decreases the catalytic effect of the F_s-site of MgO substrate surfaces. Generally, the SO₂ molecule is strongly adsorbed (chemisorption) on the MgO substrate surfaces containing F_s-center.     

Structural and optical properties of the M@C59X cages (X=N,B and M=Li,Na)

Using B3LYP/6-31G* density functional level of theory, the structural and optical properties of the C₆₀ and M@C₅₉X cages have been investigated. Results indicate that the charge on C atoms and band gap of C₆₀ cage are changed dramatically with the substitution of one B or N atom at one of the C sites and the Li and Na atom encapsulations in the C₆₀ cage. The Mulliken analyses show that the charge is transferred completely between the alkali atoms and the C₅₉X cage. The substitutional and encapsulation doping (SED) reduce the optical gaps of the C₆₀ cage. Also, the oscillator strengths of the absorption peaks are dependent on dopant types.     

Optical properties of endohedral Li@C60

UV–VIS, IR and Raman investigations have been carried out on purified Li@C₆₀ produced by low energy ion implantation of C₆₀. Two endohedral fractions can be isolated that have very different optical properties and stabilities. Here we show that the first endohedral fraction is a dimer species and the second fraction is the monomer. The IR spectra of sublimed monomer films show a prominent peak at around 1.1 μm corresponding to the first electronic transition of the C₆₀⁻ anion. Raman spectra show the vibrational–rotational movement of the Li inside the carbon cage.     

Corrosion behavior of Nd9.4Pr0.6Febal.Co6B6Ga0.5TixCx (x=0, 1.5, 3, 6) nanocomposites annealed melt-spun ribbons

The effect of Ti and C additions on the corrosion behavior of Nd_9.4Pr_0.6Fe_bal.Co₆B₆Ga_0.5Ti_xC_x (x=0, 1.5, 3, 6) isotropic nanocomposite melt-spun ribbons in 3.5 wt% sodium chloride solution was studied. The melt-spun ribbons were annealed at 750 °C for 10 min in argon-filled quartz capsules. The microstructure of multiphase nanocrystalline samples and corrosion products was characterized using the X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy techniques. The electrochemical behavior was assessed using potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The results show that the addition of Ti and C increases the corrosion resistance of NdFeB ribbons; the best corrosion resistance was obtained for 1.5 wt% Ti and C content.     

First-principles study of the electronic transport properties of a C131 -based molecular junction

Using first-principles density functional theory and the non-equilibrium Green’s function formalism, we have studied the electronic transport properties of the dumbbell-like fullerene dimer C₁₃₁-based molecular junction. Our results show that the current-voltage curve displays an obvious negative differential resistance phenomenon in a certain bias voltage range. The negative differential resistance behavior can be understood in terms of the evolution of the transmission spectrum and the projected density of states with applied bias voltage. The present findings could be helpful for the application of the C₁₃₁ molecule in the field of single molecular devices or nanometer electronics.     

富勒烯C20分子器件的电子结构和传导特性

运用基于密度泛函理论和基于非平衡格林函数的第一性原理方法研究了富勒烯C₂₀分子及连接电极构成的C₂₀分子器件的电子结构及电子输运性质.构建了三个基于C₂₀分子的嵌入K和Si原子的电子输运系统,并得到了电子透射谱和分子轨道分布.分析了三种器件的电子结构和输运性质的产生原因,说明C₂₀分子器件的电子传导主要集中在外壳.在C₂₀分子空笼中嵌入K和Si原子后,其电子输运仍然主要集中于富勒烯C₂₀的外壳. 关键词： 20分子')" href="#">富勒烯C₂₀分子 电子结构 电子传导     

Physical properties of the cubic spinel LiMn2O4

We have performed an ab initio study of structural, electronic, magnetic, vibrational and thermal properties of the cubic spinel LiMn₂O₄ by employing the density functional theory, the linear-response formalism, and the plane-wave pseudopotential method. An analysis of the electronic structure with the help of electronic density of states shows that the density of states at the Fermi level (N (E_F)) is found to be governed by the Mn 3d electrons with some contributions from the 2p states of O atoms. It is important to note that the contribution of Mn 3d states to N(_EF)$N\left(E_F\right)$ is as much as 85%. From our phonon calculations, we have obtained that the main contribution to phonon density of states (below 250 cm⁻¹) comes from the coupled motion of Mn and O atoms while phonon modes between 250 cm⁻¹ and 375 cm⁻¹ are characterized by the vibrations of all the three types of atoms. The contribution from Li increases rapidly at higher frequency (above 375 cm⁻¹) due to the light mass of this atom. Finally, the specific heat and the Debye temperature at 300 K are calculated to be 249.29 J/mol K and 820.80 K respectively.     

C20分子异构体的电子态

使用量子化学从头计算方法优化了C₂₀分子三种异构体（环形、碗形和笼形）的单重和三重电子态几何结构。从优化的几何结构出发，由二阶微扰（MP2）方法得到的单点能给出了一个不符合Hund法则的结果，也就是三种异构体的能量都是单重电子态的最低。使用UHF波函数给出了三种异构体的总电荷密度和静电势，结果显示在笼形和碗形结构的中心区域存在负电荷。最后，本文分析了环形结构的成键特征。     

Chemical reactivity of lithium‐doped fullerenes

The addition of free radicals and the 1,3 dipolar cycloaddition onto pristine and lithium‐doped C₆₀ were studied by means of the Perdew–Burke–Ernzerhof (PBE) and M06‐2X density functionals. In all cases, lithium increased the reactivity even though for the 1,3 dipolar cycloaddition onto C₆₀ the change observed with respect to bare C₆₀ was minimal. Both functionals employed gave similar encapsulation energies for Li@C₆₀ namely, 33.1 and 38.2 kcal/mol at the PBE/6‐31G* and M06‐2X/6‐31G*, respectively. However, the increased reactivity because of lithium doping determined at the PBE level is smaller as compared with that computed with the M06‐2X functional, whereas that determined at the second‐order Møller–Plesset (MP2) level is the largest one. For example, using the M06‐2X functional the binding energy of fluorine to Li@C₆₀ is 28.5 kcal/mol larger than that determined for C₆₀, whereas at the PBE/6‐31G* level it is predicted to be increased by 24.7 kcal/mol. The results clearly suggest that Li@C₆₀ is a much better free radical scavenger than C₆₀. Finally, the complex hindered rotations of lithium inside C₆₀ are expected to be strongly inhibited because lithium doping increases the well depth between the cage center and the equilibrium position near the addition site of the lithium atom. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Adsorption-desorption studies using ESD of CCl2F2, C2H2F2 and C2F6 on tungsten

The behavior of the desorbing F⁺ ion current from electron bombarded CCl₂F₂, C₂H₂F₂ and C₂F₆ adsorbed on tungsten has been used to investigate the processes of adsorption and desorption of these gases. For tungsten near room temperature, measurements of the F⁺ ion current as a function of electron bombardment time indicated very similar or even identical F⁺-yielding adsorbed species resulting from adsorption of either CCl₂F₂ or C₂H₂F₂ and widely different species from C₂F₆. Cl⁺ ions were also observed to desorb from CCl₂F₂ ad-layers. The behavior of the Cl⁺ ion current with time during electron bombardment indicated electronic conversion between adsorbed binding modes. Complementary investigations on the interaction of CCl₂F₂, C₂H₂F₂ and C₂F₆ with tungsten were carried out by thermal desorption experiments in which the F⁺ ion signal was used to observe the coverage decrease of the F⁺-yielding species. The experiments were performed at tungsten temperatures in the 1200–1600 K range. It was concluded that the F⁺-yielding adsorbed species from CCl₂F₂ and C₂H₂F₂ were strongly bound to the tungsten surface. The F⁺-yielding species from C₂F₆ were found to be weakly bound. From a comparison of the ESD and thermal desorption results, the possibility of dissociative adsorption as well as the nature of the adsorbed species is discussed.     

Effect of temperature on the electrical properties of (WO3·Co2O3) composite

The composite with the mole ratio of WO₃ to Co₂O₃ being 3:1 was fabricated by the conventional solid-state reaction process. The electrical properties of the sample were measured at various ambient temperatures in a low electric field (E<200 V/mm). The results demonstrated that the electrical behavior of the composite was sensitive to the variation of the ambient temperature. As the temperature increased, the composite displayed negative differential resistance characteristic within the temperature range of about 50-130 °C. When the temperature was between 140 and 300 °C the composite exhibited sublinear electrical behavior where current rose more weakly than voltage, which is sharply unlike those in varistors. An obviously superlinear property, exploited in varistors, was observed at the temperature of 500 °C. The present results also suggested that the composite did not obey the Arrhenius law. The current-voltage (I-V) properties of the composite could be explained by the double p-n junction and Joule heat.     

Mott-type hopping conduction in the ordered and disordered phases of LiCoO2

The temperature dependence of dc resistance was observed in the range of for layered-rock-salt (hexagonal structure, ordered distribution between Li and Co) and modified-spinel (cubic, random distribution) phases of LiCoO₂. The results suggest Mott-type hopping conduction arising from the localized Co-3d electrons in the valence band. The densities of states (DOS) at the Fermi energy (E_F) estimated from the slope of the resistance curves were 2.0×10²⁰ and 5.5×10¹⁹ cm⁻³ eV⁻¹ for the ordered and disordered phases, respectively. The relatively low DOS at E_F in the disordered phase suggests that E_F approaches the edge of the valence band as a result of the narrowing of Co-t_2g bands due to the higher lattice symmetry in the disordered phase.