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At least 55 records · Page 3

Electronic properties of epitaxial La 1- x Sr x RhO 3 thin films

Here, we report on the synthesis and electronic properties of epitaxial perovskite La 1- x Sr x RhO 3 thin films. Thin films with a Sr content ranging from $\textit{x}$ = 0 to 0.5 have been grown using molecular beam epitaxy. Transport and x-ray photoemission spectroscopy data reveal an insulator-metal-insulator transition, accompanied by a $\textit{p-}$ to $\textit{n}-$ type carrier change observed in Hall measurements. Combined with theoretical calculations, we find that the addition of Sr does not directly dope carriers into the conduction band, but rather induces localized Rh 4$\textit{d}$ states within the LaRhO 3 band gap. The bandwidth of the impurity band increases with Sr content, eventually causing the valence band (VB) and the localized Rh 4$\textit{d}$ band to overlap, which explains the first insulator-to-metal transition occurring at $\textit{x}$ = 0.35. For Sr content $\textit{x}$ > 0.4, possible cation ordering results in an increase of the gap between the VB and the Rh 4$\textit{d}$ band, leading to the second metal-to-insulator transition. We map out the electronic phase diagram of the Sr-doped LaRhO 3 system and suggest strategies to engineer the electronic states in rhodate systems via delocalizing the Rh 3+ states.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Scalable Substitutional Re‐Doping and its Impact on the Optical and Electronic Properties of Tungsten Diselenide

Abstract Reliable, controlled doping of 2D transition metal dichalcogenides will enable the realization of next‐generation electronic, logic‐memory, and magnetic devices based on these materials. However, to date, accurate control over dopant concentration and scalability of the process remains a challenge. Here, a systematic study of scalable in situ doping of fully coalesced 2D WSe 2 films with Re atoms via metal–organic chemical vapor deposition is reported. Dopant concentrations are uniformly distributed over the substrate surface, with precisely controlled concentrations down to <0.001% Re achieved by tuning the precursor partial pressure. Moreover, the impact of doping on morphological, chemical, optical, and electronic properties of WSe 2 is elucidated with detailed experimental and theoretical examinations, confirming that the substitutional doping of Re at the W site leads to n‐type behavior of WSe 2 . Transport characteristics of fabricated back‐gated field‐effect‐transistors are directly correlated to the dopant concentration, with degrading device performances for doping concentrations exceeding 1% of Re. The study demonstrates a viable approach to introducing true dopant‐level impurities with high precision, which can be scaled up to batch production for applications beyond digital electronics.

Kozhakhmetov, Azimkhan↗

Substrate Effects on Electronic Properties of Atomic Chains

Atomic chains, precise structures of adatoms created on an atomically regulated surface, are candidates for constituent elements in future electronics. It was predicted that Si chains were metallic and Mg chains were semiconducting, and a doping method was also discussed. The substrate was assumed to work as a non-interacting template holding the adatoms. However, this scheme requires a low-temperature environment so that the adatoms will not displace from their ideal positions due to unwanted thermal agitation. For better structural stability, we may seek a scheme to allow the adatoms to form chemical bonding with the substrate atoms and secure their positions. The chemical bonding has two major effects on the chain electronic properties. First, only the remaining s and p orbitals in an adatom not used for the chemical bonding can decide chain band structures, rather than the full set of orbitals previously assumed. Second, because of a possible HOMO energy difference between adatom and substrate atom, semiconducting chains are unintentionally doped. These effects are studied with a self-consistent tight-binding method with universal parameters. With one adatom per unit cell, adatom chains are semiconducting: (1) if adatoms are of group III and form one chemical bond per adatom, or (2) if adatoms are of group IV and form two chemical bonds. 'Me previous result [I I of realizing semiconducting chains by group II adatoms without chemical bonds is consistent with this picture. When the HOMO energy in an adatom is shallower than that in a substrate atom, the entire chain is positively polarized, unintentionally achieving p-type doping. When deeper, the chain is negatively charged, achieving n-type doping.

Yamada, Toshishige↗

Thermal effects on the electronic properties of sodium electride under high pressures

Sodium is a simple metal at ambient conditions, while it transits to an electride phase at pressures above ~160 GPa along the room temperature isotherm. Here we explore the thermal effects on the electronic properties of the $hP4$ phase of sodium along the $ρ$ = 5.872 g/cm 3 isochore. We quantitatively classify this phase as an insulator based on the criterion of nearsightedness of the one-particle density matrix. Ab initio calculations suggest that the band gap of this insulator decreases with increasing temperature along the isochore, primarily because of ionic distortions; culminating in an insulator-to-metal transition upon melting at $T_m \approx 2100$ $\hbox{K}$. This transition is accompanied by residual electronic localization (in d orbitals) in the form of dynamic electron bubbles and a change in hybridization form $p–d$ to $s–p$ upon melting. This transition is explored by tracking the electronic and electro-optical properties along the isochore under consideration.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Structural and Electronic Properties of Indium-Doped n-type Cd-Se-Te Crystals

Here, we present a comprehensive investigation into the potential of n-type indium-doped cadmium selenide telluride (CST:In) as a high-performance candidate for solar cell applications, without the need for resource-intensive post-growth treatments that are required for CdTe:In. We compared undoped CST and CST:In crystals under different growth conditions, analyzing their structural and electronic properties using x-ray diffraction (XRD), electron probe microanalysis (EPMA), current-voltage (IV) and Hall effect measurements, time-resolved photoluminescence (TRPL), optical transmission, and photoluminescence (PL) mapping. The results reveal that as-grown CST:In crystals achieve nearly 100% carrier activation, yielding an electron concentration of 9.5x1018 cm -3 , mobility of 653 cm 2 /V.s and a 5 ns lifetime which approaches the radiative limit. Furthermore, comparison of PL maps from crystal growths having different cooling profiles suggests a strong effect of cooling rate on selenium segregation and cubic/hexagonal/polytype phase distribution. Slower cooling leads to a more homogeneous cubic structure with lower Se segregation, while a faster cooling rate results in increased Se segregation, and twin boundaries and stacking faults with polytypic and hexagonal character.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

Electronic properties of Y-Ba-Cu-O superconductors as seen by Cu and O NMR/NQR

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and Nuclear Quadrupole Resonance (NQR) allow the investigation of electronic properties at the atomic level. We will report on such studies of typical members of the the Y-Ba-Cu-O family such as YBa2Cu30(6 + x) (1-2-3-(6 + x)), YBa2Cu4O8 (1-2-4) and Y2Ba4Cu7015 (2-4-7) with many examples of recent work performed in our laboratory. In particular, we will deal with Knight shift and relaxation studies of copper and oxygen. We will discuss important issues of current studies such as: (1) Existence of a common electronic spin-susceptibility in the planes (and perhaps in the chains) of 1-2-4; (2) Strong evidence for the existence of a pseudo spin-gap of the antiferromagnetic fluctuations in 1-2-4 and 2-4-7; (3) Evidence for d-wave pairing in 1-2-4; (4) Strong coupling of inequivalent Cu-O planes in 2-4-7 and possible origin for the high Tc value of this compound; and (5) The possibility to describe NMR data in the framework of a charge-excitation picture.

Brinkmann, D.↗

Tuning the Electronic Properties of Graphane via Hydroxylation: An Ab Initio Study

The thermodynamic stability of hydroxylated graphane, that is, fully sp 3 graphene derivatives coordinated with -H and -OH groups, has been recently demonstrated by ab initio calculations. Within the density functional theory approach, we investigate the electronic property modifications of graphane by progressive hydroxylation, that is, by progressively substituting -H with -OH groups. When 50% of graphane is hydroxylated, the energy bandgap reaches its largest value of 6.68 eV. The electronic affinity of 0.8 eV for graphane can widely change in the 0.28–1.60 eV range depending on the geometric configuration. Hydroxylated graphane has two interfaces with vacuum, hence its electron affinity can be different on each interface with the formation of an intrinsic dipole perpendicular to the monolayer. We envisage the possibility of using hydroxylated graphane allotropes with tunable electronic affinity to serve as interfacial layers in 2D material-based heterojunctions.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Electronic properties of corundum-like Ir 2 O 3 and Ir 2 O 3 -Ga 2 O 3 alloys

In the hexagonal, corundum-like structure, α-Ga 2 O 3 has a bandgap of ~5.1 eV, which, combined with its relatively small electron effective mass, high Baliga's figure of merit, and high breakdown field, makes it a promising candidate for power electronics. Ga 2 O 3 is easy to dope n-type, but impossible to dope p-type, impeding the realization of some electronic device designs. Developing a lattice-matched p-type material that forms a high-quality heterojunction with n-type Ga 2 O 3 would open new opportunities in electronics and perhaps optoelectronic devices. In this work, we studied Ir 2 O 3 as a candidate for that purpose. Using hybrid density functional theory calculations we predict the electronic band structure of α-Ir 2 O 3 and compare that to α-Ga 2 O 3 , and study the stability and electronic properties of α-(Ir x Ga 1–x ) 2 O 3 alloys. We discuss the band offset between the two materials and compare it with recently available experimental data. We find that the Ir d bands that compose the top of the valence band in α-Ir 2 O 3 are much higher in energy than O p bands in α-Ga 2 O 3 , possibly enabling effective p-type doping. Finally, our results provide an insight into using the Ir 2 O 3 or Ir 2 O 3 -Ga 2 O 3 alloys as p-type material lattice-matched to α-Ga 2 O 3 for the realization of p–n heterojunctions.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Periodic Trends within Actinyl(VI) Nitrates and Their Structures, Vibrational Spectra, and Electronic Properties

In this work, a series of actinyl(VI) nitrate salts of the form MAnO 2 (NO 3 ) 3 , where M = NH 4 + K + , Rb + , Cs + , and Me 4 N + and AnO 2 2+ = U, Np, Pu, and AnO 2 (NO 3 ) 2 (H 2 O) 2 ·H 2 O, and the uranyl tetranitrates M 2 UO 2 (NO 3 ) 4 have been synthesized from aqueous solution and their structures determined using single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Together, these complexes represent an isostructural series of actinide complexes among the salts crystallized with the same charge-compensating cation and have been studied using vibrational spectroscopy including Raman and Fourier-transform infrared. Periodic trends in both the structural properties of these complexes and their vibrational spectra are presented and discussed, in particular the invariant nature of the O≡An≡O asymmetric stretching frequencies observed across the actinyl series. Electronic structure calculations were performed at a variety of levels of theory to aid in the interpretation of the vibrational data and to correlate trends in the data with the underlying electronic properties of these molecules.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Isotope effects in molecular structures and electronic properties of liquid water via deep potential molecular dynamics based on the SCAN functional

Here, Feynman path-integral deep potential molecular dynamics (PI-DPMD) calculations have been employed to study both light (H 2 O) and heavy water (D 2 O) within the isothermalisobaric ensemble. In particular, the deep neural network is trained based on ab initio data obtained from the strongly constrained and appropriately normed (SCAN) exchange-correlation functional. Because of the lighter mass of hydrogen than deuteron, the properties of light water are more influenced by nuclear quantum effect than those of heavy water. Clear isotope effects are observed and analyzed in terms of hydrogen-bond structure and electronic properties of water that are closely associated with experimental observables. The molecular structures of both liquid H 2 O and D 2 O agree well with the data extracted from scattering experiments. The delicate isotope effects on radial distribution functions and angular distribution functions are well reproduced as well. Our approach demonstrates that deep neural network combined with SCAN functional based ab initio molecular dynamics provides an accurate theoretical tool for modeling water and its isotope effects.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Heterometallic Actinide‐Containing Photoresponsive Metal‐Organic Frameworks: Dynamic and Static Tuning of Electronic Properties

Abstract Acquiring fundamental knowledge of properties of actinide‐based materials is a necessary step to create new possibilities for addressing the current challenges in the nuclear energy and nuclear waste sectors. In this report, we established a photophysics–electronics correlation for actinide‐containing metal‐organic frameworks (An‐MOFs) as a function of excitation wavelength, for the first time. A stepwise approach for dynamically modulating electronic properties was applied for the first time towards actinide‐based heterometallic MOFs through integration of photochromic linkers. Optical cycling, modeling of density of states near the Fermi edge, conductivity measurements, and photoisomerization kinetics were employed to shed light on the process of tailoring optoelectronic properties of An‐MOFs. Furthermore, the first photochromic MOF‐based field‐effect transistor, in which the field‐effect response could be changed through light exposure, was constructed. As a demonstration, the change in current upon light exposure was sufficient to operate a two‐LED fail‐safe indicator circuit.

Martin, Corey R.↗

First-Principles Study on the Electronic Properties of PDPP-Based Conjugated Polymer via Density Functional Theory

In this study, we focus on computational predictions of the electronic and optical properties of a one-dimensional periodic model of a single chain of a diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP)-based conjugated polymer (PDPP3T) as a function of electronic configuration changes due to charge injection. Here, we employ density functional theory (DFT) to explore the ground-state and excited-state electronic properties as well as optical properties influenced by charge injection. We utilize both the Heyd–Scuseria–Ernzerhof (HSE06) and Perdew–Burke–Ernzerhof (PBE) functionals to predict the band gap and compute the absorption spectrum. Our DFT results point out that utilizing the HSE06 functional in conjunction with momentum sampling over the Brillouin zone can appropriately predict the band gap and absorption spectrum in good agreement with experimental data. Moreover, we explore the influence of charge-carrier injection on the electronic configuration of the PDPP3T polymer. Our results indicate that the injection of charge carriers into the PDPP3T semiconducting polymer model greatly affects the electrical properties and ends in a low band gap and high mobility of charge carriers in PDPP3T polymers, offering the potential to tailor the material electronic performance for organic photovoltaic and optoelectronic device applications.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗

Heterometallic Actinide-Containing Photoresponsive Metal-Organic Frameworks: Dynamic and Static Tuning of Electronic Properties

Acquiring fundamental knowledge of properties of actinide-based materials is a necessary step to create new possibilities for addressing the current challenges in the nuclear energy and nuclear waste sectors. Here in this report, we established a photophysics–electronics correlation for actinide-containing metal-organic frameworks (An-MOFs) as a function of excitation wavelength, for the first time. A stepwise approach for dynamically modulating electronic properties was applied for the first time towards actinide-based heterometallic MOFs through integration of photochromic linkers. Optical cycling, modeling of density of states near the Fermi edge, conductivity measurements, and photoisomerization kinetics were employed to shed light on the process of tailoring optoelectronic properties of An-MOFs. Furthermore, the first photochromic MOF-based field-effect transistor, in which the field-effect response could be changed through light exposure, was constructed. As a demonstration, the change in current upon light exposure was sufficient to operate a two-LED fail-safe indicator circuit.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Effect of Ligand Chemistry on the Electronic Properties and Reactivity of Cobalt Acetate Autoxidation Catalysts

Autoxidation chemistry catalyzed by cobalt(II) acetate is an industrial pathway for converting hydrocarbons into oxygenated compounds and has promising potential applications in plastic waste deconstruction. However, the chemical properties of the Co acetate-based catalysts and their roles in the reaction mechanism are poorly understood, and as a result, attempts to redesign the autoxidation chemical process for novel applications lack clear direction. In this work, we investigate the structure and electronic properties of a series of multinuclear Co(III) compounds that have been proposed as active participants in catalytic autoxidation. Through a combination of X-ray spectroscopic measurements [Co K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS), Kβ X-ray emission spectroscopy (XES), and high-energy resolution fluorescence detection (HERFD) XAS] and theoretical methods, we characterize the interactions of Co with acetate and hydroxyl ligands in these compounds. Here we show that the substitution of acetate ligands with hydroxyls in these compounds causes an increase in the electron density on Co, driven by the loss of a π back-bonding interaction between Co and acetate and an increase in electron donation to Co from the hydroxyl ligands. We further classify the bonding between Co and acetate based on the orbital overlap and show that the experimental absorption and emission spectra are well-described by the resulting molecular orbitals. Finally, we predict the impacts of acetate/hydroxyl ligand exchange on autoxidation catalytic properties, showing that the reaction free energies for key Co oxidation and reduction steps are extremely sensitive to metal-ligand bonding interactions and thus have meaningful impacts on overall reactivity. The results of this study constitute an important set of design criteria for developing novel homogeneous autoxidation catalysts.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Pressure-induced suppression of Jahn–Teller distortions and enhanced electronic properties in high-entropy oxide (Mg 0.2 Ni 0.2 Co 0.2 Zn 0.2 Cu 0.2 )O

Jahn–Teller distortions are often observed in Cu II -containing complex oxides resulting in remarkable changes of physical properties. Tuning the Jahn–Teller distortions with pressure has attracted considerable interest but is less studied in Cu II -containing high-entropy oxides (HEOs). We found that pressure can suppress the structural distortions originating from the Jahn–Teller effect of CuO 6 octahedra in the rock salt-type (Mg 0.2 Ni 0.2 Co 0.2 Zn 0.2 Cu 0.2 )O HEO and significantly modify its electronic properties. Synchrotron x-ray diffraction shows that the structural distortions arising from the Jahn–Teller effect of CuO 6 octahedra are progressively suppressed, and the distorted structure evolves into a nearly ideal form under compression. Alternating current impedance and ultraviolet-visible absorption measurements reveal a dramatic resistance drop by more than three orders of magnitude and an obvious bandgap decrease in ~0.1 eV, respectively, accompanied by the pressure-induced suppression of structural distortions. Our study presents a promising route for tuning the structural distortions and the electronic structures of Cu II -containing HEOs for optimizing materials functionalities.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Electronic properties of carbon fibers intercalated with copper chloride

Copper chloride intercalated pitch-based carbon fibers are found to have electrical resistivities as low as 12.9 micro-ohm-cm, and are air- and thermally-stable at and above room temperature. This is therefore a good candidate system for conductor application. In addition, Shubnikov-deHaas quantum oscillatory effects were found, and electronic properties of the intercalated fiber are studied using magnetic fields to 20 tesla.

Oshima, H.↗

Theoretical study of the crystal and electronic properties of α - RuI 3

The material α-RuCl 3 , with a two-dimensional Ru honeycomb sublattice, has attracted considerable attention because it may be a realization of the Kitaev quantum spin liquid. Recently, a new honeycomb material, α-RuCl 3 , was prepared under moderately high pressure, and it is stable under ambient conditions. However, different from α-RuCl 3 , α-RuI 3 was reported to be a paramagnetic metal without long-range magnetic order down to 0.35 K. Here, the structural and electronic properties of the quasi-two-dimensional α-RuI 3 are theoretically studied. First, based on first-principles density functional theory calculations, the ABC stacking honeycomb-layer R$\bar{3}$ (No. 148) structure is found to be the most likely stacking order for α-RuI 3 along the c axis. Furthermore, both R$\bar{3}$ and P$\bar{3}$1c are dynamically stable because no imaginary frequency modes were obtained in the phononic dispersion spectrum without Hubbard U. Moreover, the different physical behavior of α-RuI 3 compared to α-RuCl 3 can be understood naturally. The strong hybridization between Ru 4d and I 5p orbitals decreases the “effective” atomic Hubbard repulsion, leading the electrons of RuI3 to be less localized than in RuCl 3 . As a consequence, the effective electronic correlation is reduced from Cl to I, leading to the metallic nature of α-RuI 3 . Based on the DFT+U (Ueff=2 eV) plus spin-orbital coupling, we obtained a spin-orbit Mott insulating behavior for α-RuCl 3 and, with the same procedure, a metallic behavior for α-RuI 3 , in good agreement with experimental results. Furthermore, when introducing large (unrealistic) U eff =6 eV, the spin-orbit Mott gap opens in α-RuI 3 as well, supporting the physical picture we are proposing. Our results provide guidance to experimentalists and theorists working on two-dimensional transition metal tri-iodide layered materials.

2-dimensional systems↗