Titania nanotubes modeled from 3- and 6-layered (101) anatase sheets: Line group symmetry and comparative ab initio LCAO calculations

Abstract The formalism of line groups for one-periodic (1D) nanostructures with rotohelical symmetry has been applied for construction of TiO 2 nanotubes (NTs). They are formed by rolling up the stoichiometric two-periodic (2D) sheets cut from the energetically stable (1 0 1) anatase surface, which contains either six (O–Ti–O_O–Ti–O) or three (O–Ti–O) layers. After optimization of geometry the former keeps the centered rectangular symmetry of initial slab while the latter is spontaneously reconstructed to the hexagonal fluorite-type (1 1 1) sheet. We have considered the four sets of TiO 2 NTs with optimized 6- and 3-layered structures, which possess the two pairs of either anatase (− n , n …

Ab initiosimulations on rutile-based titania nanowires

The rod symmetry groups for monoperiodic (1D) nanostructures have been applied for construction of models for bulk-like TiO2 nanowires (NWs) cut from a rutile-based 3D crystal along the chosen [001] and [110] directions of crystallographic axes. In this study, we have considered nanowires described by both the Ti-atom centered rotation axes as well as the hollow site centered axes passing through the interstitial positions between the Ti and O atoms closest to the axes. The most stable [001]-oriented TiO2 NWs with rhombic cross sections are found to display the energetically preferable {110} facets only while the nanowires with quasi-square sections across the [110] axis are formed by the a…

A First-Principles Study of the Ag/a-Al2O3(0001) Interface

Ab initio simulations of the Ag/a-Al2O3(0001) interface have been performed for periodic slab models. We have considered Al- and O-terminated corundum surfaces, low and high substrate coverages by silver, as well as the two preferred Ag adsorption sites. The two different terminations give rise to qualitatively different results: silver physisorption on the Al-terminated substrate and chemisorption on O-terminated one. The latter could be treated as a possible model for the defective Al-terminated substrate, where the outermost aluminium ions are removed (completely or partly). This makes O-terminated surface highly reactive towards a deposited metal, in order to restore initial corundum st…

On the mechanism of the interaction between oxygen and close-packed single-crystal aluminum surfaces

Abstract Using periodic first principles simulations we investigate the interaction of oxygen molecules with both regular Al(111) and Al(001) surfaces as well as a stepped Al(111) substrate. The limitation of this approach is the use of thin metallic slabs with a limited range for their coverage by adsorbed oxygen. The advantage is the detailed modeling that is possible at an atomic level. On the regular Al(111) surface, we have been able to follow the oxidation process from the approach of O 2 molecules to the surface, through the chemisorption and absorption of O atoms, up to the formation of first Al 2 O 3 formula units. An energetically feasible mechanism for the formation of these Al 2…

Ab initio modelling of the effects of varying Zr (Ti) concentrations on the atomic and electronic properties of stoichiometric PZT solid solutions

Abstract Lead zirconate titanate Pb(ZrxTi1−x)O3 solid solution is considered as one of the most advanced ferroelectric and piezoelectric materials. Consequent variation of Zr (Ti) concentrations significantly affects the atomic and electronic properties of PZT structures. To perform ab initio modelling of different morphologies for lead zirconate titanate, we are using approach of hybrid density functional B3PW as implemented in CRYSTAL14 computer code. In this study, we are performing large-scale calculations of such PZT parameters as optimized lattice constants, atomic charges and bond populations, as well as band structure (e.g., band gap) and density of states.

Theoretical Simulations on Electric Properties of CNT-Me and GNR-Me Interconnects Using Effective Media Approach

Abstract To overcome disadvantages of nowadays microtechnology, a further miniaturization of electronic devices, high integration level as well as increase of both operation frequencies and power density is required, including the use of adequate materials and innovative chip interconnects. Due to their unique physical properties, especially due to a ballistic (without losses) mechanism of conductivity, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) attract a permanently growing technological interest, for example, as promising candidates for nanointerconnects in a high-speed electronics.

Hydrogen induced metallization of ZnO (11̅00) surface: Ab initio study

Abstract Results of first principles hybrid calculations are presented for hydrogen atoms adsorbed upon non-polar ZnO (1100) surface. The energy of surface atomic relaxation, H adsorption energy, electronic density redistribution and modification of the electronic structure are discussed. It is shown that hydrogen is adsorbed mainly on the surface oxygen ions and forms a strong bonding with them (2.7 eV). Adsorption of hydrogen on the surface zinc ions is energetically unfavorable (− 4.4 eV). It also shown that surface hydrogen atoms are very shallow donors, thus, contributing to the electronic conductivity, and ZnO metallization.

Four-faceted nanowires generated from densely-packed TiO2 rutile surfaces: Ab initio calculations

Abstract Two-dimensional (2D) slabs and monoperiodic (1D) nanowires orthogonal to the slab surface of rutile-based TiO 2 structure terminated by densely-packed surfaces and facets, respectively, have been simulated in the current study. The procedure of structural generation of nanowires (NWs) from titania slabs (2D → 1D) is described. We have simulated: ( i ) (110), (100), (101) and (001) slabs of different thicknesses as well as ( ii ) [001]- and [110]-oriented nanowires of different diameters terminated by either four types of related {110} facets or alternating { 1 1 ¯ 0 } and {001} facets, respectively. Nanowires have been described using both the Ti atom-centered rotation axes as well…

First-principles calculations of the atomic and electronic structure ofFcenters in the bulk and on the (001) surface ofSrTiO3

The atomic and electronic structure, formation energy, and the energy barriers for migration have been calculated for the neutral O vacancy point defect F center in cubic SrTiO3 employing various implementations of density functional theory DFT. Both bulk and TiO2-terminated 001 surface F centers have been considered. Supercells of different shapes containing up to 320 atoms have been employed. The limit of an isolated single oxygen vacancy in the bulk corresponds to a 270-atom supercell, in contrast to commonly used supercells containing 40– 80 atoms. Calculations carried out with the hybrid B3PW functional show that the F center level approaches the conduction band bottom to within 0.5 eV…

First‐principles modelling of defects in advanced nuclear fuels

In this paper we present and discuss the results of first first-principle modelling of point defects in nitride nuclear fuels. Calculations have been performed using the VASP computer code combined with supercells containing up to 250 atoms. The effective atomic charges, the electronic density redistribution, atomic displacements around U and N vacancies and their formation energies are discussed. (© 2007 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

The electronic properties of an oxygen vacancy at ZrO2-terminated (001) surfaces of a cubic PbZrO3: computer simulations from the first principles

Combining B3PW hybrid exchange-correlation functional within the density functional theory (DFT) and a supercell model, we calculated from the first principles the electronic structure of both ideal PbZrO(3) (001) surface (with ZrO(2)- and PbO-terminations) and a neutral oxygen vacancy also called the F center. The atomic relaxation and electronic density redistributions are discussed. Thermodynamic analysis of pure surfaces indicates that ZrO(2) termination is energetically more favorable than PbO-termination. The O vacancy on the ZrO(2)-surface attracts approximately 0.3 e (0.7 e in the bulk PbZrO(3)), while the remaining electron density from the missing O(2-) ion is localized mostly on …

Nanosensor Devices for CBRN-Agents Detection: Theory and Design

Pressing challenges of recent decades, associated with agents that are aggressive towards humans – substances and radiation of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) agents – require scientific and technological responses. These responses lie in the areas of agent detection and protection from them. The mentioned bio destructive agents can be divided into 2 groups: (1) chemical and biochemical, and (2) radiative (leading to chemical destruction of biomass). In this study, we consider models of universal track nanosensors that are capable of producing a correlated electrical response to the flow of active agents.

Interaction Between Oxygen and Yttrium Impurity Atoms as well as Vacancies in fcc Iron Lattice: Ab Initio Modeling

Synthesis of advanced radiation-resistant steels as construction materials for nuclear reactors, which contain the uniformly distributed yttria precipitates (ODS steels), is an important task for ecological security of nuclear plants. The initial stage of theoretical simulation on oxide cluster growth in the steel matrix is a large-scale ab initio modeling on pair- and triple-wise interaction between the Y and O impurity atoms as well as Fe vacancies, including their different combinations, in the paramagnetic face-centered-cubic (fcc) iron lattice. Calculations on the pair of Y atoms have shown that no bonding appears between them, whereas a certain attraction has been found between Y subs…

The adhesion nature of the Ag/MgO(100) interface: an ab initio study

The atomic and electronic structure of the Ag/MgO(100) interface are calculated by means of the ab initio Hartree-Fock approach combined with a supercell model. The electronic density distribution and the interface binding energy/distance are analyzed for different Ag adsorption positions, slabs of different thicknesses and varying Ag surface coverage. It is demonstrated that the adhesion energy arises mainly due to the electrostatic interaction of substrate atoms with a complicated charge redistribution in the metal layer(s), characterized by large quadrupole moments as well as electron density redistribution towards bridge and hollow positions between the nearest and next-nearest Ag atoms…

Quantum-chemical simulations of free and bound hole polarons in corundum crystal

Abstract The semi-empirical method of the so-called intermediate neglect of differential overlap (INDO) has been applied to the calculations of the hole small-radius polarons in corundum crystals. Results for optimized atomic and electronic structure using two different approaches (the molecular cluster and periodic, supercell model) are critically compared. It is shown that the main results are similar in both cases.

Ab initio modeling of copper adhesion on regular BaTiO3(001) surfaces

Ab initio calculations have been performed for copper adsorption on a regular, defect-free TiO"2- and BaO-terminated (001) surfaces of a cubic BaTiO"3, using a posteriori HF-CC method as implemented into the CRYSTAL-03 computer code. To clarify the nature of the interfacial bonding, we use slab models of the Cu/BaTiO"3(001) interfaces with different one-side substrate coverages, varied from 1/8 monolayer (ML) up to 1/2 ML, over both TiO"2- and BaO-terminated surfaces. TiO"2 termination has been found to be energetically more favorable for the adsorption of copper atoms. In agreement with previous experimental and theoretical data, our calculations indicate essential contribution of atomic p…

Adsorption of single Ag and Cu atoms on regular and defective MgO(001) substrates: an ab initio study

Abstract The DFT slab calculations were performed for Ag and Cu atoms adsorbed on both regular and defective MgO(0 0 1) substrates. Both metal atoms and surface O vacancies ( F s centers) were distributed uniformly with a concentration of one Ag, Cu or F s per 2×2 surface supercell. Surface O 2− ions are energetically more preferable for metal-atom adsorption on a regular substrate as compared to Mg 2+ ions. The nature of the interaction between Ag or Cu adatoms and a defectless MgO substrate is physisorption (despite the difference in the adsorption energies: 0.62 vs. 0.39 eV per Cu and Ag adatom, respectively). Above the F s centers, metal atoms are bounded much stronger when compared wit…

Hydrogen adsorption on the ZnO $(1\bar{1}00)$ surface: ab initio hybrid density functional linear combination of atomic orbitals calculations

Hydrogen atoms unavoidably presented in ZnO samples or thin films during their synthesis considerably affect electrical conductivity. Results of first principles hybrid functional linear combination of atomic orbitals calculations are discussed for hydrogen atoms incorporated in bulk or adsorbed upon non-polar ZnO (1¯ 100) surfaces. The energy of H incorporation, atomic relaxation, electronic density redistribution and modification of the electronic structure are compared for both surface adsorption and bulk absorption. It is shown that hydrogen forms a strong bonding with the surface O ions (Eads = 2.7eV) whereas its incorporation into bulk is energetically quite unfavorable. Hydrogen adso…

CNT Arrays Grown upon Catalytic Nickel Particles as Applied in the Nanoelectronic Devices: Ab Initio Simulation of Growth Mechanism

Carbon nanotubes, due to their exceptional and unique properties, have aroused a lot of research interest making them promising candidates as interconnects for future high-speed nanoelectronics. To predict a growth mechanism for carbon nanotubes (CNTs) upon a metal particle as synthesized in the porous membrane block then incorporated in the nanoelectronic device, we have performed a series of large-scale DFT-LCAO calculations using the CRYSTAL-06 code. Carbon adatoms can appear upon the densely-packed Ni(111) catalyst surface due to dissociation of hydrocarbon molecules (e.g., CH4) when applying the CVD method for the nanotube growth. We have started with adsorption properties of carbon at…

Transition levels of acceptor impurities in ZnO crystals by DFT-LCAO calculations

This research was partly supported by the Kazakhstan Science Project № AP05134367«Synthesis of nanocrystals in track templates of SiO2/Si for sensory, nano-and optoelectronic applications» and Latvian Super Cluster (LASC), installed in the Institute of Solid State Physics (ISSP) of the University of Latvia. Authors are indebted to D. Gryaznov, A. Popov and A. Dauletbekova for stimulating discussions.

Cluster simulations of structural transformations in yellow arsenic

Abstract Yellow arsenic (y-As) consists of tetrahedral As4 molecules that may be packed in some amorphous and crystalline structures. Like many other arsenic structures, y-As is metastable and undergoes irreversible transitions (polymerization) under irradiation. The process of y-As polymerization, which is observed experimentally, usually leads to the formation of amorphous arsenic (a-As) possessing a continuous random network structure. Our previous quantum chemical simulation for an eight-atom cluster model performed using semi-empirical CNDO/BW approach, combined with optimization technique of cyclic coordinate descent, have shown a formation of molecular dimers due to breaking of one b…

Modelling of silver adhesion on MgO(100) surface with defects

We show how surface defects (especially Fs 0 and Vs 0 centres) can play a major role in the adhesion of Ag (at 1:4 and 1:1 coverages) on the MgO(100) surface. Our calculations use a periodic (slab) model and an ab initio Hartree-Fock approach with a posteriori electron correlation corrections. We are able to analyse the interatomic bond populations, effective charges and multipole moments of ions, in combination with the interface binding energy and the equilibrium distances. Both surface defects cause strong redistributions of the electron density which increase the binding energy of metal atoms by more than an order of magnitude. This implies radiation-induced strengthening of metal adhes…

Symmetry and Models of Double-Wall BN and TiO2 Nanotubes with Hexagonal Morphology

The line symmetry groups for one-periodic (1D) nanostructures with rotohelical symmetry have been applied for symmetry analysis of double-wall boron nitride and titania nano- tubes (DW BN and TiO2 NTs) formed by rolling up the stoichiometric two-periodic (2D) slabs of hexagonal structure with the same or opposite orientation of translation and chiral vectors. We have considered the two sets of commensurate DW BN and TiO2 NTs with either armchair- or zigzag-type chiralities, i.e., (n1,n1)@(n2,n2 )o r (n1,0)@(n2,0), respectively. To establish theequilibriuminterwalldistancescorrespondingtotheminimaof energy, we have varied chiral indices n1 and n2 of the constituent single-wall (SW) nanotubes…

A comparative analysis of electron spectroscopy and first-principles studies on Cu(Pd) adsorption on MgO

Ultrathin MgO films were grown on a W(1 1 0) substrate while metastable impact electron (MIES) and photoelectron (UPS) spectra were measured in situ; apart from the valence band emission, no additional spectral features were detected. The oxide surface was exposed to metal atoms (Cu, Pd) at RT. A comparison with the DOS extracted from first-principles DFT calculations shows that the metal-induced intensity developing above the top of the O 2p valence band in the UP spectra under Cu(Pd) exposure is caused by Cu 3d (Pd 4d) emission. The emission seen in the MIES spectra is attributed to the ionization of Cu 3d and 4s states of adsorbed neutral Cu atoms in an Auger process, Auger neutralizatio…

Ab initio hybrid DFT calculations of BaTiO3 bulk and BaO-terminated (001) surface F-centers

Using a supercell model and a hybrid B3PW exchange-correlation functional, we have performed first principles calculations for the F-center in the BaTiO3 bulk and on the BaO-terminated (001) surface. We find that two Ti atoms nearest to the bulk F-center are repulsed, while nearest eight oxygen and four barium atoms relax toward the oxygen vacancy (by 1.06, 0.71 and 0.08% of the lattice constant [Formula: see text], respectively). The magnitudes of atomic displacements around the F-center located on the BaO-terminated (001) surface in most cases (except for Ti) are larger than those around the bulk F-center (0.1, 1.4 and 1.0% of [Formula: see text], respectively). Our calculated BaTiO3 bul…

Symmetry and Stability of the Rutile-Based TiO2 Nanowires: Models and Comparative LCAO-Plane Wave DFT Calculations

The rod symmetry groups for monoperiodic (1D) nanostructures have been applied for construction of models for bulk-like titania nanowires (NWs) cut from a rutile-based 3D crystal along the direction of a chosen crystallographic symmetry axis (in this study we consider only Ti atom-centered axes). The most stable [001]-oriented TiO2 NWs with rhombic cross sections are found to display the energetically preferable {110} facets only, while the nanowires with quasi-square sections across the [110] axis are formed by the alternating {110} and {001} facets. For simulations on rutile-based nanowires possessing four different diameters for each NW type, we have performed comparative large-scale ab …

Ab initio simulations of oxygen interaction with surfaces and interfaces in uranium mononitride

Abstract The results of DFT supercell calculations of oxygen behavior upon the UN (0 0 1) and (1 1 0) surfaces as well as at the tilt grain boundary are presented. Oxygen adsorption, migration, incorporation into the surface N vacancies on (0 0 1) and (1 1 0) surfaces have been modeled using 2D slabs of different thicknesses and supercell sizes. The temperature dependences of the N vacancy formation energies and oxygen incorporation energies are calculated. We demonstrate that O atoms easily penetrate into UN surfaces and grain boundaries containing N vacancies, due to negative incorporation energies and a small energy barrier. The Gibbs free energies of N vacancy formation and O atom incor…

Structural and electronic properties of single-walled AlN nanotubes of different chiralities and sizes

Four models of single-walled AlN nanotubes (NTs), which possess (i) two different chiralities (armchair or zigzag type) and (ii) two different uniform diameters for both types of NTs (1 or 6 nm) have been constructed, in order to analyse the dependence of their properties on both morphology and thickness. Periodic one-dimensional (1D) DFT calculations performed on these models have allowed us to analyse how the chirality and curvature of the NT change its properties as compared to both AlN bulk with either wurtzite or zinc-blende structures and their densely packed surfaces. We have found that the larger the diameter of the AlN NT, the smaller the width of its bandgap, the strengths of its …

Ab initio simulations on Frenkel pairs of radiation defects in corundum

Large scale first principles periodic calculations based on the density functional theory within the localized atomic orbital approach (DFT-LCAO) using the hybrid exchange- correlation potential B3PW have been performed in order to study the structural and electronic properties of radiation-induced Frenkel pairs Oi+VO in corundum crystal. As an initial approach, we have used conventional 2x2x1 supercell for defective α-Al2O3 lattice containing 120 atoms. After relaxation of the ideal supercell structure, the optimized doi-vo distance has been found to be ~4.5 A while the formation energy of Frenkel pair has achieved 11.7 eV. The interstitial Oi atom, both single and a component of Oi+VO pai…

A first-principles DFT study of UN bulk and (001) surface: comparative LCAO and PW calculations.

LCAO and PW DFT calculations of the lattice constant, bulk modulus, cohesive energy, charge distribu- tion, band structure, and DOS for UN single crystal are analyzed. It is demonstrated that a choice of the uranium atom relativistic effective core potentials considerably affects the band structure and magnetic structure at low tem- peratures. All calculations indicate mixed metallic-covalent chemical bonding in UN crystal with U5f states near the Fermi level. On the basis of the experience accumulated in UN bulk simulations, we compare the atomic and elec- tronic structure as well as the formation energy for UN(001) surface calculated on slabs of different thickness using both DFT approach…

Ab InitioModeling of Metal Adhesion on Oxide Surfaces with Defects

Our ab initio studies show that surface defects cause redistribution of the electron density which can increase substantially the binding energy of metal atoms to oxide surfaces. The results for electron $({F}_{s}^{0})$ and hole $({V}_{s}^{0})$ centers in the adhesion of Ag atoms (at 1:4 and 1:1 coverages) to a MgO(100) surface, combined with previous studies for charged defects, support earlier ideas of the mechanism of radiation-enhanced adhesion of nonreactive metals on oxide substrates. The results suggest that some optical control of adhesion energies is possible through charge transfer.

Comparative theoretical study of the Ag–MgO (100) and (110) interfaces

We have calculated the atomic and electronic structures of Ag–MgO(100) and (110) interfaces using a periodic (slab) model and an ab initio Hartree–Fock approach with a posteriori electron correlation corrections. The electronic structure information includes interatomic bond populations, effective charges, and multipole moments of ions. This information is analyzed in conjunction with the interface binding energy and the equilibrium distances for both interfaces for various coverages. There are significant differences between partly covered surfaces and surfaces with several layers of metal, and these can be understood in terms of electrostatics and the electron density changes. For complet…

Atomic and electronic structure of hydrogen on ZnO (11̄00) surface: ab initio hybrid calculations

Hydrogen atoms unavoidably incorporated into ZnO during growth of bulk samples and thin films considerably affect their electrical conductivity. The results of first principles hybrid LCAO calculations are discussed for hydrogen atoms in the bulk and on the non-polar ZnO (100) surface. The incorporation energy, the atomic relaxation, the electronic density redistribution and the electronic structure modifications are compared for the surface adsorption and bulk interstitial H positions. It is shown that hydrogen has a strong binding with the surface O ions (2.7 eV) whereas its incorporation into bulk is energetically unfavorable. Surface hydrogen atoms are very shallow donors, thus, contrib…

Ab initio simulations on AgCl(111) surface and AgCl(111)/α-Al2O3(0001) interface

The defect chemistry and ionic transport properties of the AgCl(111)/α-Al 2 O 3 (0001) interface were consid by using ab initio slab calculations. These calculations were performed in the framework of plane-wave basis combined with the density functional theory (DFT), as implemented into the VASP computer code, and Gaus basis set combined with the Hartree-Fock method (CRYSTAL-98 code). We analyze the electron density distribu on the interface and the electrostatic potential distribution near the AgCl surface. The size of the silver ion is great to enter the corundum surface layer and to create excess silver ions in this way. This is in agreement the experiments on heterogeneous doping of Ag…

Ab initio modeling of oxygen impurity atom incorporation into uranium mononitride surface and subsurface vacancies

The incorporation of oxygen atoms has been simulated into either nitrogen or uranium vacancy at the UN(001) surface, sub-surface or central layers. For calculations on the corresponding slab models both the relativistic pseudopotentials and the method of projector augmented-waves (PAW) as implemented in the VASP computer code have been used. The energies of O atom incorporation and solution within the defective UN surface have been calculated and discussed. For different configurations of oxygen ions at vacancies within the UN(001) slab, the calculated density of states and electronic charge re-distribution was analyzed. Considerable energetic preference of O atom incorporation into the N-v…

Theory of bound polarons in oxide compounds

We present a multilateral theoretical study of bound polarons in oxide compounds MgO and \alpha-Al_2O_3 (corundum). A continuum theory at arbitrary electron-phonon coupling is used for calculation of the energies of thermal dissociation, photoionization (optically induced release of an electron (hole) from the ground self-consistent state), as well as optical absorption to the non-relaxed excited states. Unlike the case of free strong-coupling polarons, where the ratio \kappa of the photoionization energy to the thermal dissociation energy was shown to be always equal to 3, here this ratio depends on the Froehlich coupling constant \alpha and the screened Coulomb interaction strength \beta.…

Atomistic Modeling of a New Storage

It was observed that Me/Li2O and Me/LiF nanocomposites (Me is a metal that does not alloy with lithium) are able to exhibit an extra Li storage typically beyond the uptake of stoichiometric Li in the potential window 1.2 0.02 V, with pseudo-capacitive behavior and high-rate performance. Among the composites, the Ru/Li2O exhibits a high extra Li storage at this low potential. Moreover, the Li2O matrix allows one a higher storage in contact with transition metal than the LiF matrix [1,2]. To clarify the mechanism of the Li interfacial storage anomaly, we have performed comparative first principles calculations on the atomic and electronic structure of polar Ti/Li2O(111) and nonpolar Cu/LiF(00…

Simulation of Fundamental Properties of CNT- and GNR-Metal Interconnects for Development of New Nanosensor Systems

Cluster approach based on the multiple scattering theory formalism, realistic analytical and coherent potentials, as well as effective medium approximation (EMA-CPA), can be effectively used for nano-sized systems modeling. Major attention is paid now to applications of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) with various morphology which possess unique physical properties in nanoelectronics, e.g., contacts of CNTs or (GNRs) with other conducting elements of a nanocircuit, which can be promising candidates for interconnects in high-speed electronics. The main problems solving for resistance C-Me junctions with metal particles appear due to the influence of chirality effects …

Formation of As8 dimers in molecular solid-state arsenic

Abstract Molecular yellow arsenic (y-As) consists of tetrahedral As 4 molecules that may be packed in various ways. All y-As modifications, both disordered and crystalline, are metastable and undergo irreversible transitions (polymerization) under action of heat and light, which cause a change in the nature of bonding in the molecules. Polymerization of y-As leads to the formation of amorphous arsenic (a-As) possessing a continuous random network structure. DTA studies show that polymerization is an activated exothermic process. The value of its enthalpy agrees satisfactorily with an estimate of the excess energy of strained ‘banana-shaped’ bonds in an As 4 molecule. Quantum chemical calcul…

Semi-empirical supercell calculations for free- and bound-hole polarons in crystal

Two different parametrizations of the semi-empirical method of the intermediate neglect of the differential overlap (INDO) are applied to the calculations of the small-radius hole polarons in the corundum crystal. The 80-atom supercell has been used for the study of the atomic and electronic structure of a free small-radius hole polaron (the self-trapped hole, STH) and a hole polaron bound by a Mg impurity (the so-called centre), respectively. Both parametrizations indicate that the two-site (quasi-molecular) configurations of both kinds of polaron have the lowest energy (which does not exclude the existence of one-site polarons also characterized by considerable relaxation energies). For c…

Ab initio calculations of PbTiO 3 /SrTiO 3 (001) heterostructures

We performed ab initio calculations for the PbTiO3/SrTiO3 (001) heterostructures. For both PbO and TiO2-terminations of the PbTiO3 (001) thin film, augmented on the SrTiO3 (001) substrate, the magnitudes of atomic relaxations Δz increases as a function of the number of augmented monolayers. For both terminations of the augmented PbTiO3 (001) nanothin film, all upper, third and fifth monolayers are displaced inwards (Δz is negative), whereas all second, fourth and sixth monolayers are displaced outwards (Δz is positive). The B3PW calculated PbTiO3/SrTiO3 (001) heterostructure band gaps, independently from the number of augmented layers, are always smaller than the PbTiO3 and SrTiO3 bulk band…

First principles simulations of F centers in cubic SrTiO 3

Atomic and electronic structure of regular and O-deficient SrTiO3 have been studied. Several types of first principles atomistic simulations: Hartree-Fock method, Density Functional Theory, and hybrid HF-DFT functionals, have been applied to periodic models that consider supercells of different sizes (ranging between 40 and 240 atoms). We confirm the ionic character of the Sr-O bonds and the high covalency of the Ti-O2 substructure. For the stoichiometric cubic crystal; the lattice constant and bulk modulus correctly reproduce the experimental data whereas the band gap is only properly obtained by the B3PW functional. The relaxed geometry around the F center shows a large expansion of the t…

Atomistic Theory of the Growth Mode for a Thin Metallic Film on an Isulating Substrate

We have developed a novel theory for predicting the growth mode of a thin metallic film on an insulating substrate. Our theory combines ab initio electronic structure calculations for several ordered metal/insulator interfaces with varying metal coverage, with a thermodynamic method known in the theory of alloys. We illustrate this approach for an Ag film deposited on a MgO(001) substrate. Ab initio Hartree-Fock calculations predict a high mobility of adsorbed silver atoms on the perfect magnesia surface even at low temperatures. Our theoretical analysis clearly demonstrates that the growth of metal islands is predominant at the initial stage of silver deposition on MgO, which agrees with t…

Ab initio modelling of titanium impurities in α-Fe lattice

Abstract Reduced activation ferritic-martensitic (RAFM) as well as ferritic steels strengthened by yttrium oxide are considered as candidate materials for future fusion and advanced fission reactors. Addition of Ti during the manufacturing of the oxide dispersed strengthened (ODS) leads to the formation of yttrium titanium oxide particles, which size is smaller compared to yttrium oxide particles. This improves the mechanical properties and radiation resistance of the ODS steels. DFT calculations of Ti impurities have been performed to determine the factors contributing to the formation of the nanoparticles in α-Fe (bcc-Fe) based steels. The interaction energies between TiFe-OFe, TiFe-Ooct,…

The kinetic MC modelling of reversible pattern formation in initial stages of thin metallic film growth on crystalline substrates

Abstract The results of kinetic MC simulations of the reversible pattern formation during the adsorption of mobile metal atoms on crystalline substrates are discussed. Pattern formation, simulated for submonolayer metal coverage, is characterized in terms of the joint correlation functions for a spatial distribution of adsorbed atoms. A wide range of situations, from the almost irreversible to strongly reversible regimes, is simulated. We demonstrate that the patterns obtained are defined by a key dimensionless parameter: the ratio of the mutual attraction energy between atoms to the substrate temperature. Our ab initio calculations for the nearest Ag–Ag adsorbate atom interaction on an MgO…

Coin metal adsorption on defective MgO(001) surface: ab initio study

First principles slab calculations have been performed for Ag and Cu adsorption on periodically distributed point defects (a single O2– or Mg2+ vacancy per 2×2 surface supercell) on the non-polar MgO(001) substrate. Using the procedure implemented in the CRYSTAL-03 code, both Fs and Vs centers were modeled by retaining in the vacancy the basis set of the missing O2– and Mg2+ ions, respectively, with the local relaxation of the nearest substrate ions. Adsorption of metal atom over the Fs center (2.4 eV vs. 2.1 eV per Cu and Ag adatoms, respectively) is much stronger as compared with regular O2− sites (0.6 eV vs. 0.4 eV, respectively). The Fs center donates a substantial charge towards Ag and…

Doped 1D Nanostructures of Transition-metal Oxides: First-principles Evaluation of Photocatalytic Suitability