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At least 73 records · Page 4

Conducting Polymers Meet Lithium–Sulfur Batteries: Progress, Challenges, and Perspectives

Lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries have attracted increased interest because of the high theoretical energy density, low cost, and environmental friendliness. Conducting polymers (CPs), as one of the most promising materials used in Li–S batteries, can not only facilitate electron transfer and buffer the large volumetric change of sulfur benefiting from their porous structure and excellent flexibility, but also enable stronger physical/chemical adsorption capacity toward polysulfides (LiPSs) when doped with abundant heteroatoms to promote the sulfur redox kinetics and achieve the high sulfur loading. This review firstly introduces the properties of various CPs including structural CPs (polypyrrole (PPy), polyaniline (PANi), polyethylene dioxothiophene [PEDOT]) and compound CPs (polyethylene oxide (PEO), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and poly(acrylic acid) [PAA]), and their application potential in Li–S batteries. Furthermore, the research progress of various CPs in different components (cathode, separator, and interlayer) of Li–S batteries is systematically summarized. Finally, the application perspective of the CPs in Li–S batteries as a potential guidance is comprehensively discussed.

Chen, Xin↗

Observation of an intermediate state during lithium intercalation of twisted bilayer MoS2

Abstract Lithium intercalation of MoS 2 is generally believed to introduce a phase transition from H phase (semiconducting) to T phase (metallic). However, during the intercalation process, a spatially sharp boundary is usually formed between the fully intercalated T phase MoS 2 and non-intercalated H phase MoS 2 . The intermediate state, i.e ., lightly intercalated H phase MoS 2 without a phase transition, is difficult to investigate by optical-microscope-based spectroscopy due to the narrow size. Here, we report the stabilization of the intermediate state across the whole flake of twisted bilayer MoS 2 . The twisted bilayer system allows the lithium to intercalate from the top surface and enables fast Li-ion diffusion by the reduced interlayer interaction. The E 2g Raman mode of the intermediate state shows a peak splitting behavior. Our simulation results indicate that the intermediate state is stabilized by lithium-induced symmetry breaking of the H phase MoS 2 . Our results provide an insight into the non-uniform intercalation during battery charging and discharging, and also open a new opportunity to modulate the properties of twisted 2D systems with guest species doping in the Moiré structures.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Magnetic dilution effect and topological phase transitions in (Mn 1- x Pb x )Bi 2 Te 4

We report, as the first intrinsic antiferromagnetic topological insulator, MnBi 2 Te 4 has provided a material platform to realize various emergent phenomena arising from the interplay of magnetism and band topology. Here, by investigating (Mn 1-x Pb x )Bi 2 Te 4 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.82) single crystals via the x-ray, electrical transport, magnetometry and neutron measurements, chemical analysis, external pressure, and first-principles calculations, we reveal the magnetic dilution effect on the magnetism and band topology in MnBi 2 Te 4 . With increasing x, both lattice parameters a and c expand linearly by around 2%. All samples undergo the paramagnetic to A-type antiferromagnetic transition with the Néel temperature decreasing lineally from 24 K at x = 0 to 2 K at x = 0.82. Our neutron data refinement of the x = 0.37 sample indicates that the ordered moment is 4.3(1)μ B /Mn at 4.85 K and the amount of the Mn Bi antisites is negligible within the error bars. Isothermal magnetization data reveal a slight decrease of the interlayer plane-plane antiferromagnetic exchange interaction and a monotonic decrease of the magnetic anisotropy due to diluting magnetic ions and enlarging the unit cell. For x = 0.37, the application of external pressures enhances the interlayer antiferromagnetic coupling, boosting the Néel temperature at a rate of 1.4 K/GPa and the saturation field at a rate of 1.8 T/GPa. Furthermore, our first-principles calculations reveal that the band inversion in the two end materials, MnBi 2 Te 4 and PbBi 2 Te 4 , occurs at the Γ and Z point, respectively, while two gapless points appear at x = 0.44 and x = 0.66, suggesting possible topological phase transitions with doping.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Nonmonotonic Band Flattening near the Magic Angle of Twisted Bilayer MoTe 2

Twisted bilayer MoTe 2 (tMoTe 2 ) is an emergent platform for exploring exotic quantum phases driven by the interplay between nontrivial band topology and strong electron correlations. Direct experimental access to its momentum-resolved electronic structure is essential for uncovering the microscopic origins of the correlated topological phases therein. Here, we report angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy measurements of tMoTe 2 , revealing pronounced twist-angle-dependent band reconstruction shaped by orbital character, interlayer coupling, and moiré potential modulation. Density functional theory captures the qualitative evolution, yet underestimates key energy scales across twist angles, highlighting the importance of electronic correlations. Notably, the hole effective mass at the 𝐾 point exhibits a nonmonotonic dependence on twist angle, peaking near 2°, consistent with band flattening at the magic angle predicted by continuum models. Via electrostatic gating and surface dosing, we further visualize the evolution of electronic structure versus doping, enabling direct observation of the conduction band minimum and confirm tMoTe 2 as a direct band gap semiconductor. These results establish a spectroscopic foundation for modeling and engineering emergent quantum phases in this moiré platform.

2D materials↗

Tailoring Mesopores and Nitrogen Groups of Carbon Nanofibers for Polysulfide Entrapment in Lithium–Sulfur Batteries

In the current work, we combined different physical and chemical modifications of carbon nanofibers through the creation of micro-, meso-, and macro-pores as well as the incorporation of nitrogen groups in cyclic polyacrylonitrile (CPAN) using gas-assisted electrospinning and air-controlled electrospray processes. We incorporated them into electrode and interlayer in Li–Sulfur batteries. First, we controlled pore size and distributions in mesoporous carbon fibers (mpCNF) via adding polymethyl methacrylate as a sacrificial polymer to the polyacrylonitrile carbon precursor, followed by varying activation conditions. Secondly, nitrogen groups were introduced via cyclization of PAN on mesoporous carbon nanofibers (mpCPAN). We compared the synergistic effects of all these features in cathode substrate and interlayer on the performance Li–Sulfur batteries and used various characterization tools to understand them. Our results revealed that coating CPAN on both mesoporous carbon cathode and interlayer greatly enhanced the rate capability and capacity retention, leading to the capacity of 1000 mAh/g at 2 C and 1200 mAh/g at 0.5 C with the capability retention of 88% after 100 cycles. The presence of nitrogen groups and mesopores in both cathodes and interlayers resulted in more effective polysulfide confinement and also show more promise for higher loading systems.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Magnetic-field-induced Wigner crystallization of charged interlayer excitons in van der Waals heterostructures

Abstract Ever since its inception, coherent excited states of semiconductors have been the focus of semiconductor materials research to evolve into a vibrant field of low-dimensional solid-state physics. The field is gaining new momentum these days due to emerging transdimensional semiconductors such as van der Waals bound layers of transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) of controlled thickness. Here, we develop the theory of magnetic-field-induced Wigner crystallization for charged interlayer excitons (CIE) discovered recently in TMD heterobilayers. We derive the ratio of the potential interaction energy to the kinetic energy for the many-particle CIE system in the perpendicular magnetostatic field of an arbitrary strength and predict the crystallization effect in the strong field regime. We show that magnetic-field-induced Wigner crystallization and melting of CIEs can be observed in magneto-photoluminescence experiments with TMD bilayers of systematically varied electron-hole doping concentrations. Our results advance the capabilities of this new generation of transdimensional quantum materials.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Li x (C 5 H 5 N) y Fe 2– z Se 2 : A Defect-Resilient Expanded-Lattice High-Temperature Superconductor

Two-dimensional iron chalcogenide intercalates display a remarkable correlation of the interlayer spacing with enhancement of the superconducting critical temperature (T c ). In this work, synchrotron X-ray absorption (XAS; at the Fe and Se K-edges) and emission (XES; at the Fe Κβ) spectroscopies allow one to discuss how the important rise of T c (~44 K) in the molecule-intercalated Li x (C 5 H 5 N) y Fe 2-z Se 2 relates to the electronic and local structural changes felt by the inorganic host upon doping (x). XES shows that widely separated layers of edge-sharing FeSe 4 tetrahedra carry low-spin moieties, with a local Fe magnetic moment slightly reduced compared to the parent β-Fe 2-z Se 2 . Pre-edge XAS expresses the progressively reduced mixing of metal 3d-4p states upon lithiation. Doping-mediated local lattice modifications, probed by conventional T c optimization measures (cf. the anion height and FeSe 4 tetrahedra regularity), become less relevant when layers are spaced far away. On the basis of extended X-ray absorption fine structure, such distortions are compensated by a softer Fe network that relates to Fe-site vacancies, alleviating electron-lattice correlations and superconductivity. Density functional theory (DFT) guided modification of the isolated Fe 2-z Se 2 (z, vacant sites) planes, resembling the host layers, identify that Fe-site deficiency occurs at low energy cost, giving rise to stretched Fe sheets, in accordance with experiments. Here, the robust high-T c in Li x (C 5 H 5 N) y Fe 2-z Se 2 , arises from the interplay of electron-donating spacers and the iron selenide layer's tolerance to defect chemistry, a tool to favorably tune its Fermi surface properties.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Interlayer engineering of Fe 3 GeTe 2 : From 3D superlattice to 2D monolayer

The discoveries of ferromagnetism down to the atomically thin limit in van der Waals (vdW) crystals by mechanical exfoliation have enriched the family of magnetic thin films [C. Gong et al., Nature 546 , 265–269 (2017) and B. Huang et al., Nature 546 , 270–273 (2017)]. However, compared to the study of traditional magnetic thin films by physical deposition methods, the toolbox of the vdW crystals based on mechanical exfoliation and transfer suffers from low yield and ambient corrosion problem and now is facing new challenges to study magnetism. For example, the formation of magnetic superlattice is difficult in vdW crystals, which limits the study of the interlayer interaction in vdW crystals [M. Gibertini, M. Koperski, A. F. Morpurgo, K. S. Novoselov, Nat. Nanotechnol. 14 , 408–419 (2019)]. Here, we report a strategy of interlayer engineering of the magnetic vdW crystal Fe 3 GeTe 2 (FGT) by intercalating quaternary ammonium cations into the vdW spacing. Both three-dimensional (3D) vdW superlattice and two-dimensional (2D) vdW monolayer can be formed by using this method based on the amount of intercalant. On the one hand, the FGT superlattice shows a strong 3D critical behavior with a decreased coercivity and increased domain wall size, attributed to the co-engineering of the anisotropy, exchange interaction, and electron doping by intercalation. On the other hand, the 2D vdW few layers obtained by over-intercalation are capped with organic molecules from the bulk crystal, which not only enhances the ferromagnetic transition temperature ( T C ), but also substantially protects the thin samples from degradation, thus allowing the preparation of large-scale FGT ink in ambient environment.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Electronic structure, magnetic correlations, and superconducting pairing in the reduced Ruddlesden-Popper bilayer La 3 Ni 2 O 6 under pressure: Different role of d 3 z 2 - r 2 orbital compared with La 3 Ni 2 O 7

The recent discovery of superconductivity in bilayer La 3 Ni 2 O 7 (327-LNO) under pressure stimulated much interest in layered nickelates. However, superconductivity was not found in another bilayer nickelate system, La 3 Ni 2 O 6 (326-LNO), even under pressure. To understand the similarities and differences between 326-LNO and 327-LNO, using density functional theory and the random phase approximation (RPA), we systematically investigate 326-LNO under pressure. The large crystal-field splitting between the e g orbitals caused by the missing apical oxygen moves the d 3z 2 -r 2 orbital farther away from the Fermi level, implying that the d 3z 2 -r 2 orbital plays a less important role in 326-LNO than in 327-LNO. This also results in a smaller bandwidth for the d x 2 -y 2 orbital and a reduced energy gap for the bonding-antibonding splitting of the d 3z 2 -r 2 orbital in 326-LNO, as compared to 327-LNO. Moreover, the in-plane hybridization between the d x 2 -y 2 and d 3z 2 -r 2 orbitals is found to be small in 326-LNO, while it is much stronger in 327-LNO. Furthermore, the low-spin ferromagnetic state is found to be the likely ground state in 326-LNO under high pressure. The weak interlayer coupling suggests that s ± -wave pairing is unlikely in 326-LNO. The robust in-plane ferromagnetic coupling also suggests that d-wave superconductivity, which is usually caused by antiferromagnetic fluctuations of the d x 2 -y 2 orbital, is also unlikely in 326-LNO. These conclusions are supported by our many-body RPA calculations of the pairing behavior. Additionally, contrasting with the cuprates, for the bilayer cuprate HgBa 2 CaCu 2 O 6 , we find a strong self-doping effect of the d x 2 -y 2 orbital under pressure, with the charge of Cu being reduced by approximately 0.13 electrons from 0 GPa to 25 GPa. In contrast, we do not observe such a change in the electronic density in 326-LNO under pressure, establishing another important difference between the nickelates and the cuprates.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Localized interlayer excitons in MoSe 2 –WSe 2 heterostructures without a moiré potential

Interlayer excitons (IXs) in MoSe 2 –WSe 2 heterobilayers have generated interest as highly tunable light emitters in transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) heterostructures. Previous reports of spectrally narrow (<1 meV) photoluminescence (PL) emission lines at low temperature have been attributed to IXs localized by the moiré potential between the TMD layers. We show that spectrally narrow IX PL lines are present even when the moiré potential is suppressed by inserting a bilayer hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) spacer between the TMD layers. We compare the doping, electric field, magnetic field, and temperature dependence of IXs in a directly contacted MoSe 2 –WSe 2 region to those in a region separated by bilayer hBN. The doping, electric field, and temperature dependence of the narrow IX lines are similar for both regions, but their excitonic g-factors have opposite signs, indicating that the origin of narrow IX PL is not the moiré potential.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Observation of van der Waals phonons in the single-layer cuprate ( Bi , Pb ) 2 ( Sr , La ) 2 CuO 6 + δ

Interlayer van der Waals (vdW) coupling is generic in two-dimensional materials such as graphene and transition-metal dichalcogenides, which can induce very low-energy phonon modes. Using high-resolution inelastic hard x-ray scattering, we uncover the ultralow energy phonon mode along the Cu-O bond direction in the high- T c cuprate (Bi,Pb) 2 (Sr,La) 2 ⁢CuO 6+$\delta$ (Bi2201). The energy and full-width half-maximum (FWHM) of these modes are independent of temperature, while their intensity decreases with doping in accordance with an increasing c -axis lattice parameter. Here, we compare the experimental results to first-principles density functional theory simulations and identify the observed mode as a van der Waals phonon, which arises from the shear motion of the adjacent Bi-O layers. This shows that Bi-based cuprate has vibrational properties similar to graphene and transition-metal dichalcogenides, which can be exploited to engineer novel heterostructures.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Designing the Nanoconfined Environment for Energy-Efficient Metal Nanoparticle/Ligand-Based Electrocatalysts

Nanoconfined electrocatalysts demonstrate enhanced selectivity and activity owing to new phenomena emerging from chemical species confined at the interface. Creating these nanoconfined pockets at the interface is not trivial. We need highly negative potentials to create the pockets in metal/ligand catalysts like Ag-nanoparticle/ordered ligand interlayer catalysts. Lowering this activation potential can make the electrocatalysis more energy-efficient, and changes in the environment can impact this potential. We used Density Functional Theory (DFT) to evaluate the impact of ligand length and density, interfacial protons, and surface defects like Ag vacancies and Cu and Au dopants. The nanoconfined configuration is stabilized when the ligands are longer and more densely packed, leading to better agglomeration. It is also stabilized when the ligands adsorb protons and when the ligands detach from the surface easily owing to lower charge transfer. Au-doped surfaces displayed the lowest charge transfer and decreased the activation potential.

Jana, Asmita↗

Single crystal growth, chemical defects, magnetic and transport properties of antiferromagnetic topological insulators ( Ge 1 – δ – x Mn x ) 2 Bi 2 Te 5 ( x ≤ 0.47 , 0.11 ≤ δ ≤ 0.20 )

Magnetic topological insulators provide a platform for emergent phenomena arising from the interplay between magnetism and band topology. Here we report the single crystal growth, crystal structure, magnetic and transport properties, as well as the neutron scattering studies of topological insulator series (Ge 1–δ–x Mn x ) 2 ⁢Bi 2 ⁢Te 5 (x ≤ 0.47, 0.11 ≤ δ ≤ 0.20). Upon doping up to x = 0.47, the lattice parameter c decreases by 0.8%, while the lattice parameter a remains nearly unchanged. Significant Ge vacancies and Ge/Bi site mixing are revealed via elemental analysis as well as refinements of the neutron and x-ray diffraction data, resulting in holes dominating the charge transport. At x = 0.47, below 10.8 K, a bilayer A-type antiferromagnetic ordered state emerges, featuring an ordered moment of 3.0(3) μ B /Mn at 5 K, with the c axis as the easy axis. Magnetization data unveils a much stronger effective interlayer antiferromagnetic exchange interaction and a much smaller uniaxial anisotropy compared to MnBi 2 ⁢Te 4 . We attribute the former to the shorter nearest-neighbor Mn-Mn interlayer superexchange path and the latter to the smaller ligand-field splitting in (Ge 1–δ–x ⁢Mn x ) 2 ⁢Bi 2 ⁢Te 5 . Finally, our study demonstrates that this series of materials holds promise for the investigation of the layer Hall effect and quantum metric nonlinear Hall effect.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Ferromagnetic MnBi 4 Te 7 obtained with low-concentration Sb doping: A promising platform for exploring topological quantum states

The tuning of the magnetic phase, chemical potential, and structure is crucial to observe diverse exotic topological quantum states in Mn Bi 2 Te 4 (Bi 2 Te 3 ) m (m = 0–3). Here we show a ferromagnetic (FM) phase with a chiral crystal structure in Mn (Bi 1–x Sb x ) 4 Te 7 , obtained via tuning the growth conditions and Sb concentration. Unlike previously reported Mn (Bi 1–x Sb x ) 4 Te 7 , which exhibits FM transitions only at high Sb doping levels, our samples show FM transitions (T C = 13.5 K) at 15%–27% doping levels. Furthermore, our single-crystal x-ray-diffraction structure refinements find Sb doping leads to a chiral structure with the space group of P3, contrasted with the centrosymmetric $P\bar{3}m1$ crystal structure of the parent compound MnBi 4 Te 7 . Through angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy measurements, we also demonstrated that the nontrivial band topology is preserved in the Sb-doped FM samples. Given that the nontrivial band topology of this system remains robust for low Sb doping levels, our success in making FM Mn(Bi 1–x Sb x ) 4 Te 7 with x = 0.15, 0.175, 0.2, and 0.27 paves the way for realizing the predicted topological quantum states, such as the axion insulator and Weyl semimetals. Additionally, we also observed magnetic glassy behavior in both antiferromagnetic MnBi 4 Te 7 and FM Mn (Bi 1–x Sb x )4 Te 7 samples, which we believe originates from cluster spin-glass phases coexisting with long-range antiferromagnetic/FM orders. Further, we have also discussed how the antisite Mn ions impact the interlayer magnetic coupling and how FM interlayer coupling is stabilized in this system.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Vacancy Mediated Electrooxidation of 5‐Hydroxymethyl Furfuryl Using Defect Engineered Layered Double Hydroxide Electrocatalysts

Abstract Electrochemical biomass oxidation coupled with hydrogen evolution offers a promising route to generate value‐added chemicals and clean energy. The complex adsorption behavior of 5‐hydroxymethyl furfural (HMF) and hydroxyl ions (OH − ) on the electrocatalyst surface during HMF electrooxidation reaction (HMFOR) necessitates an in‐depth understanding of active sites available for adsorption. Herein, oxygen vacancy (V O ) defects are introduced in NiFe layered double hydroxide (LDH) using Ce dopants to manipulate electronic structure. Synchrotron‐based HE‐XRD and XAS indicate negligible V O in La‐doped NiFe while Ce doping leads to V O defects due to flexible Ce redox (Ce 3+ ↔ Ce 4+ ). The V O ‐rich Ce‐NiFe exhibits higher Faradic efficiency of ≈90% to produce 2,5‐furan dicarboxylic acid (FDCA), far greater than ≈60% for NiFe V O in Ce‐NiFe act as alternative active sites for OH − adsorption, hence reducing adsorption competition for the same metal sites. DFT calculation results corroborate experimental findings by showcasing that the presence of V O in Ce‐NiFe manipulates the adsorption energies and facilitates the chemical adsorption OH − in V O to improve HMFOR. In situ HE‐XRD derived pair distribution function coupled to RMC simulations confirm OH − trapping in V O and HMF adsorption on metal centers as evident by interlayer distance evolution. Taken together, this work showcases routes for dual‐site electrocatalyst design for improved biomass electrooxidation.

Chemistry↗

Electrochemical Li Intercalation in Black Phosphorus: In Situ and Ex Situ Studies

A systematic study on electrochemical charge transfer in Li-doped black phosphorous (BP) was carried out by both in-situ and ex-situ Raman scattering. Galvanostatic discharge of dedicated in-situ electrochemical cell for Raman spectroscopy was used to study time evolution of vibrational modes under lithiation. In addition to the peak broadening which is a result of structural expansion, peaks corresponding to all three atomic vibrational modes A 1 g , B 2 g and A 2 g were found to red-shift as a result of lithiation. Peaks B 2 g and A 2 g were shifted about 1.6 times more towards lower wavenumbers in comparison to A 1 g . Further characterizations using optical and electron microscopy showed that the intercalation of BP is highly anisotropic, where channels along the zigzag direction were found to be the easy direction for intercalation. X-ray diffraction on intercalated samples confirmed a reduction of thickness as lithiation weakens interlayer bonding, thus resulting in a partial exfoliation of BP flakes. Here, first principle studies using density function theory (DFT) were used to develop a theoretical model for the intercalation mechanism. The discrepancy between the experimental and the theoretical results was also addressed.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Magnetic and f-electron effects in LaNiO2 and NdNiO2 nickelates with cuprate-like $$3{d}_{{x}^{2}-{y}^{2}}$$ band

Recent discovery of superconductivity in the doped infinite-layer nickelates has renewed interest in understanding the nature of high-temperature superconductivity more generally. The low-energy electronic structure of the parent compound NdNiO 2 , the role of electronic correlations in driving superconductivity, and the possible relationship between the cuprates and the nickelates are still open questions. Here, by comparing LaNiO 2 and NdNiO 2 systematically within a parameter-free, all-electron first-principles density-functional theory framework, we reveal the role of Nd 4 f electrons in shaping the ground state of pristine NdNiO 2 . Strong similarities are found between the electronic structures of LaNiO 2 and NdNiO 2 , except for the effects of the 4 f electrons. Hybridization between the Nd 4 f and Ni 3 d orbitals is shown to significantly modify the Fermi surfaces of various magnetic states. In contrast, the competition between the magnetically ordered phases depends mainly on the gaps in the Ni \(3{d}_{{x}^{2}-{y}^{2}}\) band. Our estimated value of the on-site Hubbard U in the nickelates is similar to that in the cuprates, but the value of the Hund’s coupling J H is found to be sensitive to the Nd magnetic moment. In contrast with the cuprates, NdNiO 2 presents 3D magnetism with competing antiferromagnetic and (interlayer) ferromagnetic exchange, which may explain why the T c is lower in the nickelates.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗