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At least 73 records · Page 4

Characterizing Disorders Within Cathode Materials of Lithium‐Ion Batteries

The demand for developing high-energy density cathode materials has been increasing. The energy densities of cathode materials have been improved by adapting structural deviation from the ideal fully ordered α-NaFeO2 type, but that led to limitations in terms of structural stability and safety. Although disorders in cathode materials are closely related to their electrochemical properties, unfortunately, characterizing the disorder itself in cathode materials has been challenging due to its complex parasitic reaction and strong correlation with other disorders occurring during charge/discharge. In this review, we categorize various disorders by their scales of ordering from short-range to long-range. We addressed the principles of various characterization tools to figure out how they can help to identify the structural disorder in cathode materials. Specifically, we focused on the underlying principles of each characterization technique to correlate different disorder-driven phenomena through several case studies. It underscores the substantial importance of disorder-property relationships and the corresponding characterization methods, which can provide novel research strategies for developing high-energy density cathode materials with decent structural stability.

Lee, Hakwoo↗

Dynamics of disordered mechanical systems with large connectivity, free probability theory, and quasi-Hermitian random matrices

Disordered mechanical systems with high connectivity represent a limit opposite to the more familiar case of disordered crystals. Individual ions in a crystal are subjected essentially to nearest-neighbor interactions. In contrast, the systems studied in this paper have all their degrees of freedom coupled to each other. Thus, the problem of linearized small oscillations of such systems involves two full positive-definite and non-commuting matrices, as opposed to the sparse matrices associated with disordered crystals. Consequently, the familiar methods for determining the averaged vibrational spectra of disordered crystals, introduced many years ago by Dyson and Schmidt, are inapplicable for highly connected disordered systems. In this paper we apply random matrix theory (RMT) to calculate the averaged vibrational spectra of such systems, in the limit of infinitely large system size. At the heart of our analysis lies a calculation of the average spectrum of the product of two positive definite random matrices by means of free probability theory techniques. We also show that this problem is intimately related with quasi-hermitian random matrix theory (QHRMT), which means that the ‘hamiltonian’ matrix is hermitian with respect to a non-trivial metric. This extends ordinary hermitian matrices, for which the metric is simply the unit matrix. The analytical results we obtain for the spectrum agree well with our numerical results. The latter also exhibit oscillations at the high-frequency band edge, which fit well the Airy kernel pattern. We also compute inverse participation ratios of the corresponding amplitude eigenvectors and demonstrate that they are all extended, in contrast with conventional disordered crystals. Finally, we compute the thermodynamic properties of the system from its spectrum of vibrations. In addition to matrix model analysis, we also study the vibrational spectra of various multi-segmented disordered pendula, as concrete realizations of highly connected mechanical systems. A universal feature of the density of vibration modes, common to both pendula and the matrix model, is that it tends to a non-zero constant at vanishing frequency.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Correlated Anion Disorder in Heteroanionic Cubic TiOF 2

Resolving anion configurations in heteroanionic materials is crucial for understanding and controlling their properties. For anion-disordered oxyfluorides, conventional Bragg diffraction cannot fully resolve the anionic structure, necessitating alternative structure determination methods. We have investigated the anionic structure of anion-disordered cubic (ReO 3 -type) TiOF 2 using X-ray pair distribution function (PDF), 19 F MAS NMR analysis, density functional theory (DFT), cluster expansion modeling, and genetic-algorithm structure prediction. Our computational data predict short-range anion ordering in TiOF 2 , characterized by predominant cis-[O 2 F 4 ] titanium coordination, resulting in correlated anion disorder at longer ranges. To validate our predictions, we generated partially disordered supercells using genetic-algorithm structure prediction and computed simulated X-ray PDF data and 19 F MAS NMR spectra, which we compared directly to experimental data. To construct our simulated 19 F NMR spectra, we derived new transformation functions for mapping calculated magnetic shieldings to predicted magnetic chemical shifts in titanium (oxy)fluorides, obtained by fitting DFT-calculated magnetic shieldings to previously published experimental chemical shift data for TiF 4 . We find good agreement between our simulated and experimental data, which supports our computationally predicted structural model and demonstrates the effectiveness of complementary experimental and computational techniques in resolving anionic structure in anion-disordered oxyfluorides. From additional DFT calculations, we predict that increasing anion disorder makes lithium intercalation more favorable by, on average, up to 2 eV, highlighting the significant effect of variations in short-range order on the intercalation properties of anion-disordered materials.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Advancing Mn-Based Li-Ion Battery Cathodes via a Partially Cation-Disordered Zigzag-Type Li–Nb–Mn–O Framework

Mn-based Li-ion battery cathodes encompass a great variety of materials structures. Decades of research effort have proven that developing a Mn-based structure featuring a high redox activity, stable cycling, and cost-effectiveness is a longstanding challenge. Motivated by such a need and inspired by the structural diversity of Mn-based cathodes, we develop a partially cation-disordered lithium niobium manganese oxide with a zigzag structure, filling the knowledge gap between zigzag-ordered and fully disordered Li-Mn-based oxides. Electrochemically, the partially disordered cathode greatly unlocks the redox activity of the zigzag lattice and maintains the cycling stability. Mechanism-wise, the partial disordering suppresses the disproportionation reaction of Mn(III) and facilitates a disordered λ-MnO 2 -tetragonal cation-disordered rock salt structural transformation. Furthermore, the work suggests the substantial opportunity of using partial disordering as the key strategy to revive locked-up redox activities and realize new energy storage mechanisms, for the pursuit of high-performance cost-effective battery materials.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Sharp spectroscopic fingerprints of disorder in an incompressible magnetic state

Disorder significantly impacts the electronic properties of conducting quantum materials by inducing electron localization and thus altering the local density of states and electric transport. In insulating quantum magnetic materials, the effects of disorder are less understood and can drastically impact fluctuating spin states like quantum spin liquids. In the absence of transport tools, disorder is typically characterized using chemical methods or by semi-classical modeling of spin dynamics. This requires high magnetic fields that may not always be accessible. Here, we show that magnetization plateaus—incompressible states found in many quantum magnets—provide an exquisite platform to uncover small amounts of disorder, regardless of the origin of the plateau. Using optical magneto-spectroscopy on the Ising-Heisenberg triangular-lattice antiferromagnet K 2 Co(SeO 3 ) 2 exhibiting a 1/3 magnetization plateau, we identify sharp spectroscopic lines, the fine structure of which serves as a hallmark signature of disorder. Through analytical and numerical modeling, we show that these fingerprints not only enable us to quantify minute amounts of disorder but also reveal its nature—as dilute vacancies. Remarkably, this model explains all details of the thermomagnetic response of our system, including the existence of multiple plateaus. Our findings provide a new approach to identifying disorder in quantum magnets.

Infrared spectroscopy↗

Disorder effects in nitride semiconductors: impact on fundamental and device properties

Abstract Semiconductor structures used for fundamental or device applications most often incorporate alloy materials. In “usual” or “common” III–V alloys, based on the InGaAsP or InGaAlAs material systems, the effects of compositional disorder on the electronic properties can be treated in a perturbative approach. This is not the case in the more recent nitride-based GaInAlN alloys, where the potential changes associated with the various atoms induce strong localization effects, which cannot be described perturbatively. Since the early studies of these materials and devices, disorder effects have indeed been identified to play a major role in their properties. Although many studies have been performed on the structural characterization of materials, on intrinsic electronic localization properties, and on the impact of disorder on device operation, there are still many open questions on all these topics. Taking disorder into account also leads to unmanageable problems in simulations. As a prerequisite to address material and device simulations, a critical examination of experiments must be considered to ensure that one measures intrinsic parameters as these materials are difficult to grow with low defect densities. A specific property of nitride semiconductors that can obscure intrinsic properties is the strong spontaneous and piezoelectric fields. We outline in this review the remaining challenges faced when attempting to fully describe nitride-based material systems, taking the examples of LEDs. The objectives of a better understanding of disorder phenomena are to explain the hidden phenomena often forcing one to use ad hoc parameters, or additional poorly defined concepts, to make simulations agree with experiments. Finally, we describe a novel simulation tool based on a mathematical breakthrough to solve the Schrödinger equation in disordered potentials that facilitates 3D simulations that include alloy disorder.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Perturbation theory and thermal transport in mass-disordered alloys: Insights from Green's function methods

Lowest-order quantum perturbation theory (Fermi's golden rule) for phonon-disorder scattering has been used to predict thermal conductivities in several semiconducting alloys with surprising success given its underlying hypothesis of weak and dilute disorder. In this paper, we explain how this is possible by focusing on the case of maximally mass-disordered Mg 2 Si 1-x Sn x . In this work, we use a Chebyshev polynomials Green's function method, which allows a full treatment of disorder on very large systems (tens of millions of atoms) to probe individual phonon linewidths and frequency-resolved thermal transport. We demonstrate that the success of perturbation theory originates from the specific form of mass disorder terms in the phonon Green's function and from the interplay between anharmonic and disorder scattering.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Engineering phonon transport through cation disorder in dimensionally constricted high entropy MXene

Designing materials with low thermal conductivity is a crucial objective for applications in thermal insulation and thermoelectrics. Traditional methods such as doping, mechanical strain and introducing defects in perfect crystals have been widely explored to impede the flow of heat. Here, this work introduces dimensional constriction and cationic disorder as novel avenues to manipulate lattice thermal conductivity (LTC). High entropy materials characterized by random distribution of multiple elements, creates a suitable environment for thermal insulation due to its configurational disorder and local lattice distortions. On the other hand, MXenes, derived from MAX-phase, have garnered considerable attention due to their unique structural attributes, leading to potential applications in catalysis and energy storage. Ti 2 AlC MAX-phase is examined to understand the impact of dimensional constriction on phonon transport of Ti 2 C with cationic disorder, i.e., (Ti 0.25 Nb 0.25 Cr 0.25 Ta 0.25 ) 2 C. The exponential reduction in LTC of HE-MXene is attributed to disorder scattering that significantly limits phonon mean free path (MFP) and relaxation time. The spread of mode-resolved LTC with MFP highlights the influence of disorder on phonon scattering. This work provides a systematic approach to engineer LTC through dimensional constriction and cationic disorder, laying the foundation for tailored materials with desired thermal properties.

2D materials↗

Controlling inversion disorder in a stoichiometric spinel magnet

In the study of frustrated quantum magnets, it is essential to be able to control the nature and degree of site disorder during the growth process, as many measurement techniques are incapable of distinguishing between site disorder and frustration-induced spin disorder. Pyrochlore-structured spinel oxides can serve as model systems of geometrically frustrated three-dimensional quantum magnets; however, the nature of the magnetism in one well-studied spinel, ZnFe 2 O 4 , remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate simultaneous control of both stoichiometry and inversion disorder in the growth of ZnFe 2 O 4 single crystals, directly yielding a revised understanding of both the collective spin behavior and lattice symmetry. Crystals grown in the stoichiometric limit with minimal site inversion disorder contravene all the previously suggested exotic spin phases in ZnFe 2 O 4 . Furthermore, the structure is confirmed on the F$\bar{4}$3m space group with broken inversion symmetry that induces antiferroelectricity. The effective tuning of magnetic behavior by site disorder in the presence of robust antiferroelectricity makes ZnFe 2 O 4 of special interest to multiferroic devices.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Significance of the structural configuration of B2 disorder in Co and Ti based Heusler alloys

We investigate here structural (at local and global levels) and transport properties for 𝑋 2 ⁢MnAl (𝑋= Co and Ti). Additionally, the magnetic properties were also studied for Ti 2 ⁢MnAl. Our x-ray diffraction results show that both the compounds stabilize in B2 disordered phase with cubic structure of 𝑃⁢𝑚⁢$\overline{3}$⁢𝑚 space group. Further, the structural configuration of the above disordered phase for both the compounds was identified using combined studies of x-ray absorption spectroscopy and multiple scattering calculations at the transition metal 𝐾 edges. Upon such identification, in the case of Co 2 ⁢Mn 1−𝑦⁢ Cr 𝑦 ⁢Al (𝑦= 0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.2) with change in 𝑦, we are able to establish a better connection quantitatively between the inverse of Mn-Co bonds and peak in the temperature-dependent resistivity. This highlights the crucial importance of a detailed understanding of the nature of B2 disorder. In the case of 𝑦=0, in the temperature range of study, the resistivity is driven by the functional form associated with (a) three-dimensional enhanced electron-electron Coulomb interaction scattering mechanism and (b) an unconventional one-magnon process. For Ti 2 ⁢MnAl, the transport shows metallic glasslike behavior at high temperature, while at low temperature it follows both the Cote-Meisel's model and quantum correction model. In this compound, the magnetic studies suggest the formation of superparamagnetic clusters in the paramagnetic matrix at low temperatures. Our density functional theory results are in line with the transport and magnetic properties. In literature, the spin polarization percentage (𝑃) for 𝑋= Co in B2 disordered phase is 76%. However, the present results emphasize the fact that in B2 disordered phase, the value of 𝑃 can range from 90% to 71% depending on the structural configuration introduced by swapping of the atomic positions of Mn and Al. For the compound under study, the value of percentage spin polarization obtained ranges between 82% to 85%. In addition, we also identify the origin of the difference in the shape of the Mn 3⁢𝑑 density of states for both the alloys. In conclusion, our results for 𝑋= Co alloy highlights the importance of identifying the specific structural configuration associated with a particular disorder category especially in the estimation of 𝑇 𝑐 and 𝑃 and for 𝑋= Ti, the physical properties can be tuned by varying the position of 𝐸 𝐹 and thereby its utilization in device applications.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Relaxation mechanisms in a disordered system with Poisson-level statistics

Here we discuss the interplay between many-body localization and spin symmetry. To this end, we study the time evolution of several observables in the anisotropic t- j model. Like the Hubbard chain, the studied model contains charge and spin degrees of freedom, yet it has smaller Hilbert space and thus allows for numerical studies of larger systems. We compare the field disorder that breaks the $\mathbb{Z}_2$ spin symmetry and a potential disorder that preserves the latter symmetry. In the former case, sufficiently strong disorder leads to localization of all studied observables, at least for the studied system sizes. However, in the case of symmetry-preserving disorder, we observe that odd operators under the $\mathbb{Z}_2$ spin transformation relax towards the equilibrium value at relatively short timescales that grow only polynomially with the disorder strength. On the other hand, the dynamics of even operators and the level statistics within each symmetry sector are consistent with localization. Our results indicate that localization exists within each symmetry sector for symmetry-preserving disorder. Odd operators' apparent relaxation is due to their time evolution between distinct symmetry sectors.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Finite-size subthermal regime in disordered SU ( N ) -symmetric Heisenberg chains

SU⁡(N) symmetry is incompatible with the many-body localized (MBL) phase, even when strong disorder is present. However, recent studies have shown that finite-size SU⁡(2) systems exhibit nonergodic, subthermal behavior, characterized by the breakdown of the eigenstate thermalization hypothesis, and by the excited eigenstates entanglement entropy that is intermediate between area and volume law. In this paper, we extend previous studies of the SU⁡(2)-symmetric disordered Heisenberg model to larger systems, using the time-dependent density matrix renormalization group (tDMRG) method. We simulate quench dynamics from weakly entangled initial states up to long times, finding robust subthermal behavior at stronger disorder. Although we find an increased tendency towards thermalization at larger system sizes, the subthermal regime persists at intermediate time scales, nevertheless, and therefore should be accessible experimentally. At weaker disorder, we observe signatures of thermalization; however, entanglement entropy exhibits slow sublinear growth, in contrast to conventional thermalizing systems. Furthermore, we study dynamics of the SU⁡(3)-symmetric disordered Heisenberg model. Similarly, strong disorder drives the system into subthermal regime, albeit thermalizing phase is broader compared to the SU⁡(2) case. Finally, our findings demonstrate the robustness of the subthermal regime in spin chains with non-Abelian continuous symmetry, and are consistent with eventual thermalization at large system sizes and long time scales, suggested by previous studies.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Probing configurational disorder in ZnGeN 2 using cluster-based Monte Carlo

ZnGeN 2 is sought as a semiconductor with comparable lattice constant to GaN and tunable band gap for integration in optoelectronic devices. Configurational disorder on the cation sublattice of ZnGeN 2 can strongly modify the electronic structure compared to the ordered material, and both ordered and disordered forms of ZnGeN 2 are candidates for light-emitting diodes and other emitters. The nonisovalent character of the disordered species (Zn 2+ and Ge 4+ ) subjects the cation ordering to strong short-range order effects. To model these effects, we use Monte Carlo (MC) simulations utilizing a cluster expansion to approximate formation enthalpy. Representative disordered configurations in 1024-atom supercells are relaxed in density functional theory calculations. From the MC structures, we extract a short-range order parameter (the N-cation coordination motif), and two long-range order parameters (Bragg-Williams and stretching parameters), and examine their correlations. We perform a thermodynamic integration to determine the mixing entropy and free energy. ZnGeN 2 exhibits a first-order phase transition with pronounced discontinuities in enthalpy and entropy, as well as in the structural order parameters. We discuss the relationship between the effective temperature used in the MC simulation and the growth temperatures in experiment in relation to the crossover from the nonequilibrium to the equilibrium growth regime. This work expands on current models of site disorder in ZnGeN 2 and provides atomic structure models with a systematic variation of the degree of cation disorder.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Structural analysis and functional evaluation of the disordered ß–hexosyltransferase region from Hamamotoa (Sporobolomyces) singularis

Hamamotoa (Sporobolomyces) singularis codes for an industrially important membrane bound ß-hexosyltransferase (BHT), (BglA, UniprotKB: Q564N5) that has applications in the production of natural fibers such as galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) and natural sugars found in human milk. When heterologously expressed by Komagataella phaffii GS115, BHT is found both membrane bound and soluble secreted into the culture medium. In silico structural predictions and crystal structures support a glycosylated homodimeric enzyme and the presence of an intrinsically disordered region (IDR) with membrane binding potential within its novel N-terminal region (1–110 amino acids). Additional in silico analysis showed that the IDR may not be essential for stable homodimerization. Thus, we performed progressive deletion analyses targeting segments within the suspected disordered region, to determine the N-terminal disorder region’s impact on the ratio of membrane-bound to secreted soluble enzyme and its contribution to enzyme activity. The ratio of the soluble secreted to membrane-bound enzyme shifted from 40% to 53% after the disordered N-terminal region was completely removed, while the specific activity was unaffected. Furthermore, functional analysis of each glycosylation site found within the C-terminal domain revealed reduced total secreted protein activity by 58%–97% in both the presence and absence of the IDR, indicating that glycosylation at all four locations is required by the host for the secretion of active enzyme and independent of the removed disordered N-terminal region. Overall, the data provides evidence that the disordered region only partially influences the secretion and membrane localization of BHT.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

On the Interplay between Size and Disorder in Suppressing Intercalation-Induced Phase Transitions in Pseudocapacitive Nanostructured MoS 2

Pseudocapacitors are an emerging class of energy storage materials that offer an attractive compromise between the energy density of batteries and power density of electric double-layer capacitors. Decreasing particle size and increasing surface area of battery materials is a common approach for introducing pseudocapacitive behavior and increasing power density. However, in many cases, as the crystal size is reduced, lattice disorder of unknown extent is also introduced, making it difficult to characterize the relative contribution of size and disorder to fast-charging performance. Here, in this work, a series of nanostructured MoS 2 materials are synthesized with different crystallite sizes and degrees of crystallinity to decouple the effects of size and disorder on charge/discharge kinetics. The extent and type of disorder in each material is quantified by total X-ray scattering experiments and pair distribution function analyses. Electrochemical characterization, including galvanostatic rate capability, cyclic voltammetry, and various kinetic analyses, are used to demonstrate that both decreasing particle size and introducing lattice disorder are effective strategies for increasing charge storage kinetics, and that the effects are additive. Finally, operando X-ray diffraction measurements show that both size and disorder can be used suppress first-order Li + intercalation-induced phase transitions, a key feature for enabling pseudocapacitive charge storage.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Disordering of helium gas bubble superlattices in molybdenum under ion irradiation and thermal annealing

Self-organization of gas bubbles causes the formation of an ordered array of nanoscale gas bubbles (a gas bubble superlattice), a highly efficient mechanism for gas storage under irradiation. Here, the stability of helium (He) gas bubble superlattices in molybdenum (Mo) under krypton (Kr) ion irradiation and thermal annealing has been investigated. The He gas bubble superlattices gradually become disordered under Kr ion irradiation at 300° C, and the order-disorder transformation process completes at 2.5 dpa. Both transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and synchrotron-based small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) reveal that the order-disorder transformation of He gas bubble superlattices is associated with a slight increase in the average bubble size. Phase-field modeling indicates that the inhomogeneous growth and coarsening of bubbles/voids cause the disordering of imperfect superlattices under irradiation and implies that highly ordered superlattices could potentially exhibit much stronger resistance to irradiation damage. Under thermal annealing, the He gas bubble superlattices in Mo become unstable and disordered at 1000° C with the bubble size increasing from ~1.1 to ~1.6 nm. The finding in this research provides insights into the disordering mechanisms of defect superlattices as well as guidance for designing stable defect superlattices in harsh environments.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Visualization of Multifractal Superconductivity in a Two-Dimensional Transition Metal Dichalcogenide in the Weak-Disorder Regime

Eigenstate multifractality is a distinctive feature of noninteracting disordered metals close to a metal–insulator transition, whose properties are expected to extend to superconductivity. While multifractality in three dimensions (3D) only develops near the critical point for specific strong-disorder strengths, multifractality in 2D systems is expected to be observable even for weak disorder. Here we provide evidence for multifractal features in the superconducting state of an intrinsic, weakly disordered single-layer NbSe 2 by means of low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy. The superconducting gap, characterized by its width, depth, and coherence peaks’ amplitude, shows a characteristic spatial modulation coincident with the periodicity of the quasiparticle interference pattern. The strong spatial inhomogeneity of the superconducting gap width, proportional to the local order parameter in the weak-disorder regime, follows a log-normal statistical distribution as well as a power-law decay of the two-point correlation function, in agreement with our theoretical model. Furthermore, the experimental singularity spectrum f(α) shows anomalous scaling behavior typical from 2D weakly disordered systems.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Decoding ionic conductivity and reordering in cation-disordered pyrochlores

The ordered structure A 2 B 2 O 6 O’ in pyrochlores engenders twin rows of inequivalent anion sublattices each centred on alternating cations. While it is known that cation antisite disorder augments the ionic conductivity by several orders of magnitude, the local cation environment around the anions and the dynamic anion reordering during the cation disordering are not well-elucidated. Using atomistic simulations on Gd 2 Zr 2 O 7 , we first show that the anions engage in concerted hops to the neighbouring tetrahedral sites mostly along with the $\langle$1 0 0$\rangle$ direction while completely avoiding the octahedral sites. While the initially vacant 8 a sites start accommodating oxygen ions with increasing cation disorder, they show noticeable reluctance even at significant levels of disorder. We have also tracked both the distribution of available oxygen sites following random cation disorder, which is dependent only on cation disordering, and the probability of occupation of these sites. Interestingly, the available oxygen sites show a non-monotonic dependence on the number of B ions in the nearest neighbouring shell while the occupation probability of all the available oxygen sites increases monotonically. A tetrahedral oxygen site thus has a better probability of being occupied when it has a greater number of second neighbour B ions. This article is part of the Theo Murphy meeting issue 'Understanding fast-ion conduction in solid electrolytes'.

Science & Technology - Other Topics↗