A comprehensive study of structure and properties of nanocrystalline zinc peroxide

Abstract Nanocrystalline zinc peroxide (nano-ZnO2) was synthesized through a hydrothermal process and comprehensively studied using several experimental techniques. Its crystal structure was characterized by X-ray diffraction, and the average crystallite size of 22 nm was estimated by Rietveld refinement. The temperature-dependent local environment around zinc atoms was reconstructed using reverse Monte Carlo (RMC) analysis from the Zn K-edge X-ray absorption spectra. The indirect band gap of about 4.6 eV was found using optical absorption spectroscopy. Lattice dynamics of nano-ZnO2 was studied by infrared and Raman spectroscopy. In situ Raman measurements indicate the stability of nano-ZnO…

Ab initio modelling of UN grain boundary interfaces

The uranium mononitride (UN) is a material considered as a promising candidate for Generation-IV nuclear reactor fuels. Unfortunately, oxygen in air affects UN fuel performance and stability. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the mechanism of oxygen adsorption and further UN oxidation in the bulk and at surface. Recently, we performed a detailed study on oxygen interaction with UN surface using density functional theory (DFT) calculations. We were able to identify an atomistic mechanism of UN surface oxidation consisting of several important steps, starting with the oxygen molecule dissociation and finishing with oxygen atom incorporation into vacancies on the surface. However, in re…

<title>Quantum chemistry studies of the O K-edge x-ray absorption in WO<formula><inf><roman>3</roman></inf></formula> and AWO<formula><inf><roman>3</roman></inf></formula></title>

In this work we present an interpretation of experimental O K-edge x-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) in perovskite-type WO3 and AWO3 compounds (A = H and Na) using three different first principles approaches: (i) fullmultiple- scattering (FMS) formalism (the real-space FEFF code), (ii) hybrid density functional theory (DFT) method with partial incorporation of exact Hartree-Fock exchange using formalism of the linear combination of atomic orbitals (LCAO) as implemented in the CRYSTAL code; (iii) plane-wave DFT method using formalism of the projectoraugmented waves (PAW) as implemented in the VASP code.

Electronic charge redistribution in LaAlO$_3$(001) thin films deposited at SrTiO$_3$(001) substrate: First principles analysis and the role of stoichiometry

We present a comprehensive first-principles study of the electronic charge redistribution in atomically sharp LaAlO$_3$/SrTiO$_3$(001) heterointerfaces of both n- and p-types allowing for non-stoichiometric composition. Using two different computational methods within the framework of the density functional theory (linear combination of atomic orbitals and plane waves) we demonstrate that conducting properties of LaAlO$_3$/SrTiO$_3$(001) heterointerfaces strongly depend on termination of LaAlO$_3$ (001) surface. We argue that both the polar "catastrophe" and the polar distortion scenarios may be realized depending on the interface stoichiometry. Our calculations predict that heterointerface…

Study of High-Temperature Behaviour of ZnO by Ab Initio Molecular Dynamics Simulations and X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy

Wurtzite-type zinc oxide (w-ZnO) is a widely used material with a pronounced structural anisotropy along the c axis, which affects its lattice dynamics and represents a difficulty for its accurate description using classical models of interatomic interactions. In this study, ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) was employed to simulate a bulk w-ZnO phase in the NpT ensemble in the high-temperature range from 300 K to 1200 K. The results of the simulations were validated by comparison with the experimental Zn K-edge extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectra and known diffraction data. AIMD NpT simulations reproduced well the thermal expansion of the lattice, and the pronounced …

A Universal Approach to Quantify Overpotential-Dependent Selectivity Trends for the Competing Oxygen Evolution and Peroxide Formation Reactions : A Case Study on Graphene Model Electrodes

In this article, we study the competing oxygen evolution and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) formation reactions for periodic models of graphene with different active-site concentrations by means of densi...

Local structure studies of SrTi16O3and SrTi18O3

In this work we report on the local structure of Ti in SrTi 16 O3 (STO16) and SrTi 18 O3 (STO18) investigated in the low temperature range (6‐300K) by extended x-ray absorption fine structure and x-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy at Ti K-edge and by optical second harmonic generation (SHG). By comparing XANES of STO16 and STO18 we have identified the isotopic effect which produces at T < 100K a noticeable difference in the measured mean square relative displacements (MSRD) of Ti‐O1 bonds: while STO16 follow the expected Einstein-like behavior, for STO18 we have measured an increase of MSRD values with decreasing temperature. This is an indication of an increasing off…

Water Adsorption on Clean and Defective Anatase TiO2 (001) Nanotube Surfaces: A Surface Science Approach

We use ab initio molecular dynamics simulations to study the adsorption of thin water films with 1 and 2 ML coverage on anatase TiO2 (001) nanotubes. The nanotubes are modeled as 2D slabs, which consist of partially constrained and partially relaxed structural motifs from nanotubes. The effect of anion doping on the adsorption is investigated by substituting O atoms with N and S impurities on the nanotube slab surface. Due to strain-induced curvature effects, water adsorbs molecularly on defect-free surfaces via weak bonds on Ti sites and H bonds to surface oxygens. While the introduction of an S atom weakens the interaction of the surface with water, which adsorbs molecularly, the presence…

Chemisorption of a molecular oxygen on the UN(001) surface: Ab initio calculations

The results of DFT GGA calculations on oxygen molecules adsorbed upon the (0 0 1) surface of uranium mononitride (UN) are presented and discussed. We demonstrate that O2 molecules oriented parallel to the substrate can dissociate either (i) spontaneously when the molecular center lies above the surface hollow site or atop N ion, (ii) with the activation barrier when a molecule sits atop the surface U ion. This explains fast UN oxidation in air.

First Principles Simulations on Surface Properties and Oxidation of Nitride Nuclear Fuels

Interpretation of the U L3-edge EXAFS in uranium dioxide using molecular dynamics and density functional theory simulations

X-ray absorption spectroscopy is employed to study the local structure of pure and Cr-doped UO2 at 300 K. The U L3-edge EXAFS spectrum is interpreted within the multiplescattering (MS) theory using the results of the classical and ab initio molecular dynamics simulations, allowing us to validate the accuracy of theoretical models. The Cr K-edge XANES is simulated within the full-multiple-scattering formalism considering a substitutional model (Cr at U site). It is shown that both unrelaxed and relaxed structures, produced by ab initio density functional theory (DFT) calculations, fail to describe the experiment.

First principles modeling of 3d-metal doped three-layer fluorite-structured TiO2 (4,4) nanotube to be used for photocatalytic hydrogen production

This study has been supported by the EC ERA.Net RUS Plus project No. 237 WATERSPLIT, Russian Basic Research Foundation No. 16-53-76019, and additionally by the IMIS2 Program (Latvia). The authors are also indebted to R. A. Evarestov and O. Lisovski for stimulating discussions as well as to A. Chesnokov for technical assistance.

Interpretation of the Cu K-edge EXAFS spectra of Cu3N using ab initio molecular dynamics

Financial support provided by ERDF project No. 1.1.1.2/VIAA/l/16/147 (1.1.1.2/16/I/001) under the activity “Post-doctoral research aid” realized at the Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia is greatly acknowledged. This work was supported by a grant from the Swiss National Supercomputing Centre (CSCS) under the project ID s681 .

C-, N-, S-, and Fe-Doped TiO2 and SrTiO3 Nanotubes for Visible-Light-Driven Photocatalytic Water Splitting: Prediction from First Principles

The ground state electronic structure and the formation energies of both TiO2 and SrTiO3 nanotubes (NTs) containing CO, NO, SO, and FeTi substitutional impurities are studied using first-principles calculations. We observe that N and S dopants in TiO2 NTs lead to an enhancement of their visible-light-driven photocatalytic response, thereby increasing their ability to split H2O molecules. The differences between the highest occupied and lowest unoccupied impurity levels inside the band gap (HOIL and LUIL, respectively) are reduced in these defective nanotubes down to 2.4 and 2.5 eV for N and S doping, respectively. The band gap of an NO+SO codoped titania nanotube is narrowed down to 2.2 eV …

First-principles calculations on Fe-Pt nanoclusters of various morphologies

Financial support provided by Scientific Research Project for Students and Young Researchers Nr. SJZ/2016/17 implemented at the Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia, is greatly acknowledged. A.P. and R.E. express their gratitude to High-performance computer centers of ISSP (University of Latvia) and St. Petersburg University. This research was partially supported by Graphene Flagship GrapheneCore1-AMD-696656-4.

Excited States Calculations of MoS2@ZnO and WS2@ZnO Two-Dimensional Nanocomposites for Water-Splitting Applications

This research was funded by the Latvian Scientific Council grant LZP-2018/2-0083. Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia, as the Center of Excellence, has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 Framework Program H2020-WIDESPREAD-01-2016-2017-TeamingPhase2 under Grant Agreement No. 739508, project CAMART2.

Influence of Au, Ag, and Cu Adatoms on Optical Properties of TiO2 (110) Surface: Predictions from RT-TDDFT Calculations

This study was financially supported by Flag-ERA JTC To2Dox project (S.P.) and M-ERA-NET2 project SunToChem (E.A.K.). M.G.B. thanks the support from the Program for the Foreign Experts (Grant No. W2017011) offered by Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications and the National Foreign Experts Program for “Belt and Road Initiative” Innovative Talent Exchange (Grant No. DL2021035001L), Estonian Research Council grant PUT PRG111, European Regional Development Fund (TK141), NCN project 2018/31/B/ST4/00924. Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia, as the Center of Excellence, has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Framework Program H2020-WIDESPREAD-01…

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…

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 initio simulations on N and S co-doped titania nanotubes for photocatalytic applications

In this paper we present the results of quantum chemical modeling for energetically stable anatase (001) TiO2 nanotubes, undoped, doped, and codoped with N and S atoms. We calculate the electronic structure of one-dimensional (1D) nanotubes and zero-dimensional (0D) atomic fragments cut out from these nanotubes, employing hybrid density functional theory with a partial incorporation of an exact, nonlocal Hartree–Fock exchange within the formalism of the linear combination of atomic orbitals, as implemented in both CRYSTAL and NWChem total energy codes. Structural optimization of 1D nanotubes has been performed using CRYSTAL09 code, while the cut-out 0D fragments have been modelled using the…

Local Structure Studies of Ti for SrTi16O3 and SrTi18O3 by Advanced X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy Data Analysis

Strontium titanate is a model quantum paraelectric in which in the region of dominating quantum statistics the ferroelectric instability is inhibited due to nearly complete compensation of the harmonic contribution into ferroelectric soft mode frequency by the zero-point motion contribution. The enhancement of atomic masses by the substitution of 18O for 16O decreases the zero-point atomic motion and low-T ferroelectricity in SrTi18O3 is realized. In this study we report on the local structure of Ti in SrTi16O3 and SrTi18O3 by Ti K-edge extended x-ray absorption fine structure measurements in temperature range 6 – 300 K.

Ab initio molecular dynamics simulations of the Sc K-edge EXAFS of scandium trifluoride

Scandium fluoride ScF3 has a simple cubic structure and attracts attention due to its large negative thermal expansion (NTE) over a wide range of temperatures (0-1100 K). In this study we present ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations of ScF3 and their validation using the Sc K-edge EXAFS spectra in the temperature range from 300 K to 1000 K measured at the XAFS beamline of ELETTRA. The obtained results allow an assessement of the employed AIMD model and provide insight into the local structure and the lattice dynamics of ScF3 beyond the harmonic approximation. A strong anisotropy of the fluorine atom vibrations in the direction orthogonal to the -Sc-F-Sc- chain is observed. An exp…

Ab Initio Computations of O and AO as well as ReO2, WO2 and BO2-Terminated ReO3, WO3, BaTiO3, SrTiO3 and BaZrO3 (001) Surfaces

This research received funding from the Latvian-Ukraine cooperation Project No. LV/UA-2021/5. The Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia (Latvia), as the Centre of Excellence, has received funding from the European Unions Horizon 2020 Framework Programme H2020-WIDESPREAD01-2016-2017-Teaming Phase2 under Grant Agreement No. 739508, project CAMART2.

Validation of a constrained 2D slab model for water adsorption simulation on 1D periodic TiO2 nanotubes

Abstract Solar light driven hydrogen evolution is one focus of modern materials research. Among the different emerging technologies, particular interest is devoted towards metal oxide photocatalysts in the form of various 1D nanostructures. Presently, the mismatch between regular structures that can be synthesized and the largest structures that are feasible for computer simulation is still very large. For example, an in-depth study of water adsorption on nanotube (NT) surfaces requires, in addition to DFT calculations, molecular dynamics simulations to take into account the disordered nature of the aqueous phase. To completely immerse even a very thin nanotube into an aqueous system requir…

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…

Ab initio molecular dynamics simulations of negative thermal expansion in ScF3: the effect of the supercell size

The authors sincerely thank S. Ali, A. Kalinko, and F. Rocca for providing experimental EXAFS data, as well as M. Isupova, V. Kashcheyevs, and A. I. Popov for stimulating discussions. Financial support provided by project No. 1.1.1.2/VIAA/l/16/147 (1.1.1.2/16/I/001) under the activity “Post-doctoral research aid” realized at the Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia is greatly acknowledged by D.B. A.K and J.P. would like to thank the support of the Latvian Council of Science project No. lzp-2018/2–0353.

Ab initio calculations of doped TiO2 anatase (101) nanotubes for photocatalytical water splitting applications

Abstract TiO 2 (titania) is one of the promising materials for photocatalytic applications. In this paper we report on recently obtained theoretical results for N and S doped, as well as N+S co-doped 6-layer (101) anatase nanotube (NT). First principles calculations in our study have been performed using a modified B3LYP hybrid exchange-correlation functional within density functional theory (DFT). Here we discuss the energy of defect formation mechanism and electronic band structure for nanotubes under study. We also report on influence of dopant concentration on the NT's band structure and discuss the defect–defect interactions.

2D Slab Models of Nanotubes Based on Tetragonal TiO2 Structures: Validation over a Diameter Range

This research was funded by the M-ERA.NET project ?Multiscale computer modelling, synthesis and rational design of photo(electro)catalysts for efficient visible-light-driven seawater splitting? (CatWatSplit). Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia as the Center of Excel-lence has received funding from the European Union?s Horizon 2020 Framework Program H2020-WIDESPREAD-01-2016-2017-TeamingPhase2 under Grant Agreement No. 739508, project CAMART2.

Interpretation of unexpected behavior of infrared absorption spectra ofScF3beyond the quasiharmonic approximation

Scandium fluoride (${\mathrm{ScF}}_{3}$), having cubic ${\mathrm{ReO}}_{3}$-type structure, has attracted much scientific attention due to its rather strong negative thermal expansion (NTE) in the broad temperature range from 10 to 1100 K. Here we use the results of diffraction and extended x-ray absorption fine-structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy to interpret the influence of NTE on the temperature dependence of infrared absorption spectra of ${\mathrm{ScF}}_{3}$. Original infrared absorption and EXAFS experiments in a large temperature range are presented and interpreted using ab initio lattice dynamics simulations within and beyond quasiharmonic approximations. We demonstrate that ab initio e…

Local structure of perovskites ReO3and ScF3with negative thermal expansion: interpretation beyond the quasiharmonic approximation

We propose an approach beyond the quasiharmonic approximation for interpretation of EXAFS and XRD data and for ab initio calculations of electronic and vibration properties of materials with negative thermal expansion. Ab initio electronic structure and lattice dynamics calculations for cubic and distorted ScF3 were performed using the linear combination of atomic orbitals (LCAO) method. The band gap obtained in calculations for ScF3 is equal to 10.54 eV and agree well with the expected value. The calculated infrared spectra of F displaced (FD) cubic ScF3 allow us to predict that its mean Sc-F-Sc angle within NTE deviates from 180 degree.

Water Splitting on Multifaceted SrTiO3 Nanocrystals: Computational Study

The financial support of M-ERA.NET2 Sun2Chem project is greatly acknowledged by E.K. Authors thank Dr. Marjeta Ma?ek Kr?manc and prof. Chi-Sheng Wu, for the fruitful discussions. The financial support of FLAG-ERA JTC project To2Dox is acknowledged by Y.A.M. This paper is based upon the work from COST Action 18234, supported by COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology). The support is greatly acknowledged by Y.A.M. and V.K. The grant No. 1.1.1.2/VIAA/l/16/147 (1.1.1.2/16/I/001) under the activity of Post-doctoral research aid is greatly acknowledged by M.S. and D.B. The Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia (Latvia) as the Centre of Excellence has received fundin…

Analysis of the U L3-edge X-ray absorption spectra in UO2 using molecular dynamics simulations

This work was supported by a grant from the Swiss National Supercomputing Centre (CSCS) under the project ID s444. The resource allocation within the PSI share at CSCS and on the PSI compute cluster Merlin4 is also acknowledged. D. B. is grateful for a fellowship within the Sciex-NMS programme. A. K. was supported by Latvian Science Council Grant no. 187/2012.

Negative thermal expansion of ScF 3 : first principles vs empirical molecular dynamics

The calculations were performed on the Paul Scherrer Institute cluster Merlin4, HPC resources of the Swiss National Supercomputing Centre in Lugano (project ID s626) as well as at the Latvian SuperCluster (LASC). Authors are greatly indebted to S. Ali, D. Gryaznov, R.A. Evarestov, M. Isupova, A. Kalinko, V. Kashcheyevs, V. Pankratov, S. Piskunov, A. I. Popov, J. Purans, F. Rocca, L. Shirmane, P. Zˇguns, and Yu. F. Zhukovskii for many stimulating discussions. Financial support provided by project No. 1.1.1.2/VIAA/l/16/147 (1.1.1.2/16/I/001) under the activity “Post-doctoral research aid” realized at the Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia is greatly acknowledged.

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,…

2D slab models of TiO2 nanotubes for simulation of water adsorption: Validation over a diameter range

Financial support provided by Scientific Research Project for Students and Young Researchers Nr. SJZ/2019/2 realized at the Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia is greatly acknowledged. Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia as the Center of Excellence has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Framework Programme H2020-WIDESPREAD-01-2016-2017-TeamingPhase2 under Grant Agreement No. 739508, project CAMART 2 .

Systematic Trends in Hybrid-DFT Computations of BaTiO3/SrTiO3, PbTiO3/SrTiO3 and PbZrO3/SrZrO3 (001) Hetero Structures

We acknowledge the financial support from the funder—Latvian Council of Science. The funding number is: Grant No. LZP-2020/1-0345. The Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia (Latvia), as the Centre of Excellence, has received funding from the European Unions Horizon 2020 Framework Programme H2020-WIDESPREAD01-2016-2017-Teaming Phase2 under Grant Agreement No. 739508, project CAMART-2.

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

CO2 and CH2 Adsorption on Copper-Decorated Graphene: Predictions from First Principle Calculations

Calculations were performed using Latvian Super Cluster (LASC), located in Center of Excellence at Institute of Solid State Physics, the University of Latvia, which is supported by European Union Horizon2020 Framework Programme H2020-WIDESPREAD-01-2016-2017-TeamingPhase2 under Grant Agreement No. 739508, project CAMART2. The authors would like to express their gratitude for funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 768789 (CO2EXIDE project). In the last stage of investigation and during the preparation of the publication, the authors were assisted by the postdoc D.B. with his own funding from project No. 1.1.1.2/VIAA/l/16/147 (…