0000000000174728
AUTHOR
G. Zvejnieks
Ab initio simulation of (Ba,Sr)TiO3 and (Ba,Ca)TiO3 perovskite solid solutions
Abstract The results of ab initio (first-principles) computations of structural, elastic and piezoelectric properties of Ba(1−x)SrxTiO3 (BSTO) and Ba(1−x)CaxTiO3 (BCTO) perovskite solid solutions are presented, discussed and compared. Calculations are performed with the CRYSTAL14 computer code within the linear combination of atomic orbitals (LCAO) approximation, using advanced hybrid functionals of the density-functional-theory (DFT). Supercell model allows us to simulate solid solutions with different chemical compositions (x = 0, 0.125 and 0.25) within ferroelectric tetragonal phases (x
Theoretical and Experimental Study of (Ba,Sr)TiO 3 Perovskite Solid Solutions and BaTiO 3 /SrTiO 3 Heterostructures
This study was supported by the ERA-NET HarvEnPiez project. The authors would like to thank their national funding agencies (Latvian State Education Development Agency, Slovenian Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology, Romanian National Authority for Scientific Research and Innovation, CCCDI-UEFISCDI, project number 49/2016 within PNCDI III – M-ERA NET Program).
Statistical characterization of self-assembled charged nanoparticle structures
We propose a novel approach for description of dynamics of nanostructure formation for a system consisting of oppositely charged particles. The combination of numerical solution of analytical Bogolyubov–Born–Green–Kirkwood–Yvon (BBGKY) type equation set with reverse Monte Carlo (RMC) method allows us to overcome difficulties of standard approaches, such as kinetic Monte Carlo or Molecular Dynamics, to describe effects of long-range Coulomb interactions. Moreover, this allows one to study the system dynamics on realistic time and length scales. We applied this method to a simple short-range Lenard–Jones (LJ)-like three- (3D) and two-dimensional (2D) system combining the long-range Coulomb an…
Surface phase transitions at O and CO catalytic reaction on Pd(111)
Abstract The model has been proposed to simulate numerically the reaction O + CO → CO2 and occurring phase transitions on Pd(1 1 1) surface. We calculate the phase diagram for this system by kinetic Monte Carlo method. It shows the phase transitions p ( 2 × 2 ) O → 3 × 3 R 30 O ° and p ( 2 × 2 ) O → 3 × 3 R 30 O ° → p ( 2 × 1 ) O with increase of CO coverage for room and intermediate temperatures, respectively, while in the low temperature limit the direct p(2 × 2)O → p(2 × 1)O phase transition is observed. We demonstrate that the reaction rate is the crucial factor determining the occurrence of the p(2 × 1)O phase and vanishing of the 3 × 3 R 30 O ° with decrease of temperature. The result…
Kinetic Monte Carlo modeling of Y2O3 nano-cluster formation in radiation resistant matrices
This work has been carried out within the framework of the EUROfusion Consortium and has received funding from the Euratom research and training programme 2014-2018 under grant agreement No 633053. The views and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of the European Commission.
Monte Carlo simulations of the periodically forced autocatalyticA+B→2Breaction
The one-parameter autocatalytic Lotka-like model, which exhibits self-organized oscillations, is considered on a two-dimensional lattice, using Monte Carlo computer simulations. Despite the simplicity of the model, periodic modulation of the only control parameter drives the system through a sequence of frequency locking, quasiperiodic, and resonance behavior.
Were the chaotic ELMs in TCV the result of an ARMA process?
The results of a previous paper claiming the demonstration that edge localized mode (ELM) dynamics on TCV are chaotic in a number of cases has recently been called into question, because the statistical test employed was found to also identify linear auto regressive—moving average (ARMA) models as chaotic. The TCV ELM data has therefore been re-examined with an improved method that is able to make this distinction, and the ARMA model is found to be an inappropriate description of the dynamics on TCV. The hypothesis that ELM dynamics are chaotic on TCV in a number of cases is therefore still favoured.
Pattern Formation Kinetics for Charged Molecules on Surfaces: Microscopic Correlation Function Analysis
The kinetics of pattern formation and phase separation in a system of two types of oppositely charged molecules with competing short- and long-range interactions on surfaces/interfaces is studied combining three methods: a microscopic formalism of the joint correlation functions, reverse Monte Carlo, and nonequilibrium charge-screening factors. The molecular ordering occurs on the background of the Ostwald ripening and thus is strongly nonequilibrium. We have demonstrated how initial random distribution of molecules is changed for loose similar-molecule aggregates, with further reorganization into dense macroscopic domains of oppositely charged molecules. Pattern formation process is charac…
Manifestation of dipole-induced disorder in self-assembly of ferroelectric and ferromagnetic nanocubes
The authors thank Marjeta Maˇcek Kržmanc for many useful discussions. The financial support of M-ERA.NET Project Har-vEnPiez (Innovative nano-materials and architectures for integrated piezoelectric energy harvesting applications) is gratefully acknowledged. D.Z. acknowledges the support of the postdoctoral research program at the University of Latvia (Project No. 1.1.1.2/VIAA/1/16/072). The computing time of the LASC cluster was provided by the Institute of Solid State Physics (ISSP).
Model of the catalyticA+B→0reaction with surface reconstruction
The $A+\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{B}0$ reaction model with a surface reconstruction is analyzed. It is compared with another similar model for the ${A+1/2B}_{2}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}0$ reaction [V. N. Kuzovkov et al., J. Chem. Phys. 108, 5571 (1998)], which mimics the CO oxidation reaction on the Pt surfaces. The effect of monomer B adsorption instead of dimer ${B}_{2}$ is examined. It is shown that qualitative system features such as reactant concentration oscillations are independent of this substitution.
Quantum chemical study of electron‐phonon interaction in crystals
Study of the interaction of the electromagnetic radiation with nonlocal potentials and the electron-phonon interaction is motivated by its key role in non-classical phenomena in dielectrics and semiconductors. Actual in second quantization is decoupling of the undesirable mixture of electronic and phonon birth/annihilation operators and obtaining the effect of radiation in presence of the nonlocal potentials. Here we transform an arbitrary effective electron- phonon Hamiltonian in two matrices – the matrix of a new interaction Hamiltonian and the matrix of the transformation. For a particular effective Hamiltonian formulated in second quantization these two matrices outline a starting point…
Atomistic theory of mesoscopic pattern formation induced by bimolecular surface reactions between oppositely charged molecules
The kinetics of mesoscopic pattern formation is studied for a reversible A+B⇌0 reaction between mobile oppositely charged molecules at the interface. Using formalism of the joint correlation functions, non-equilibrium charge screening and reverse Monte Carlo methods, it is shown that labyrinth-like percolation structure induced by (even moderate-rate) reaction is principally non-steady-state one and is associated with permanently growing segregation of dissimilar reactants and aggregation of similar reactants into mesoscopic size domains. A role of short-range and long-range reactant interactions in pattern formation is discussed.
Atomic and electronic structure of both perfect and nanostructured Ni(111) surfaces: First-principles calculations
article i nfo In this study, we perform first principles simulations on both atomically smooth and nanostructured Ni(111) slabs. The latter contains periodically distributed nickel nanoclusters atop a thin metal film gradually growing from adatoms and serving as a promising catalyst. Applying the generalized gradient approximation within the formalism of the density functional theory we compare the atomic and electronic structures of Ni bulk, as well as both perfect and nanostructured (111) surfaces obtained using two different ab initio approaches: (i) the linear combination of atomic orbitals and (ii) the projector augmented plane waves. The most essential inter-atomic forces between the …
Reply to "comment on 'Monte Carlo simulations for a Lotka-type model with reactant surface diffusion and interactions' ".
As is well known, a wide class of physical problems, including the kinetics of heterogeneous catalytic reactions, is traditionally described in terms of the master equations ~ME!. The definition of ME allows us not only to perform Monte Carlo ~MC! simulations, but also to develop at the same time appropriate analytical methods @mean field~MF!, cluster approximations, etc. #@ 1#. ME is formally defined when all possible states of a system and the transition rates between these states are specified. This is enough to define only the transition rates K(i! j ) for such elementary processes as particle adsorption, desorption, diffusion, reaction, etc., from the initial state i to the final state…
Interface-induced enhancement of piezoelectricity in the (SrTiO 3 ) m /(BaTiO 3 ) M−m superlattice for energy harvesting applications
This research is funded by the Latvian Council of Science, project No. lzp-2018/1-0147. The computer resources were provided by Stuttgart Supercomputing Center (project DEFTD 12939) and Latvian Super Cluster (LASC). Many thanks to R. Dovesi, A. Erba, and M. Rérat for numerous stimulating discussions.
Ab initio calculations of structural, electronic and vibrational properties of BaTiO3 and SrTiO3 perovskite crystals with oxygen vacancies
The first-principles (ab initio) computations of the structural, electronic, and phonon properties have been performed for cubic and low-temperature tetragonal phases of BaTiO3 and SrTiO3 perovskite crystals, both stoichiometric and non-stoichiometric (with neutral oxygen vacancies). Calculations were performed with the CRYSTAL17 computer code within the linear combination of atomic orbitals approximation, using the B1WC advanced hybrid exchange-correlation functional of the density-functional-theory (DFT) and the periodic supercell approach. Various possible spin states of the defective systems were considered by means of unrestricted (open shell) DFT calculations. It was demonstrated that…
Microscopic approach to the kinetics of pattern formation of charged molecules on surfaces.
A microscopic formalism based on computing many-particle densities is applied to the analysis of the diffusion-controlled kinetics of pattern formation in oppositely charged molecules on surfaces or adsorbed at interfaces with competing long-range Coulomb and short-range Lennard-Jones interactions. Particular attention is paid to the proper molecular treatment of energetic interactions driving pattern formation in inhomogeneous systems. The reverse Monte Carlo method is used to visualize the spatial molecular distribution based on the calculated radial distribution functions (joint correlation functions). We show the formation of charge domains for certain combinations of temperature and dy…
Electromechanical Properties of Ba(1–x)SrxTiO3 Perovskite Solid Solutions from First-Principles Calculations
Many thanks to M. Maček-Kržmanc, R. A. Evarestov, D. Gryaznov and D. Fuks for fruitful discussions. This study was supported by the ERA-NET HarvEnPiez project.
Effects of pressure, temperature and atomic exchanges on phase separation dynamics in Au/Ni(111) surface alloy: Kinetic Monte Carlo study
Abstract Instability of the Au/Ni(111) surface alloy is studied in different CO gas pressure, p , and temperature limits using kinetic Monte Carlo simulations. We analyze the reaction front dynamics and formation of Au clusters using the model which takes into account surface adatom pair and three-body interactions, CO adsorption and desorption, catalytic carbonyl formation reaction, Au and Ni adatom diffusion and their concerted exchange. Variation of interaction parameters allows us to identify three possible reaction front propagation limits with different pressure dependencies: (i) slow channel-like flow in agreement with experimental data [1] (step flow rate, R , increases with p ), (i…
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…
Simulation of Reaction-Induced Phase Separation in Surface Alloy
Using kinetic Monte Carlo method we simulate the dynamics of biatomic Au0.3Ni0.7 surface alloy separation on Ni(111) due to Ni(CO)4 out-reaction. The experiment of Vestergaard et al. is modeled by counterbalancing dynamical processes and interactions between reactants. The simulations demonstrate step flow rate increase with CO coverage, cCO, in qualitative agreement with the experiment only for cCO <∼ 0.45 monolayer. Moreover, we demonstrate both CO influence on reaction process and Au domain formation.
Void lattice formation in electron irradiated CaF 2 : Statistical analysis of experimental data and cellular automata simulations
Abstract Calcium fluoride (CaF2) is an important optical material widely used in both microlithography and deep UV windows. It is known that under certain conditions electron beam irradiation can create therein a superlattice consisting of vacancy clusters (called a void lattice). The goal of this paper is twofold. Firstly, to perform a quantitative analysis of experimental TEM images demonstrating void lattice formation, we developed two distinct image filters. As a result, we can easily calculate vacancy concentration, vacancy cluster distribution function as well as average distances between defect clusters. The results for two suggested filters are similar and demonstrate that experimen…
Modelling of phase transitions and reaction at CO adsorption on oxygen precovered Pd(111)
Abstract Using the interaction parameters up to the third neighbors and activated form of O and CO diffusion and their reaction, the model has been proposed for Monte-Carlo simulations describing the catalytic O + CO → CO2 reaction and occurring phase transitions on Pd(1 1 1) surface. Upon adsorption of CO the pre-adsorbed oxygen transforms from p(2 × 2)O phase into 3 × 3 R 30 O ° and 3 × 3 R 30 O ° → p ( 2 × 1 ) O phases in the limit of room and moderate temperatures, respectively. We demonstrate that the kinetic effects determine both the occurrence of the p(2 × 1)O and disappearance of the 3 × 3 R 30 O ° phases at moderate and low temperatures, respectively. Using reaction rate as a fit …
Theory of non-equilibrium critical phenomena in three-dimensional condensed systems of charged mobile nanoparticles.
A study of 3d electrostatic self-assembly (SA) in systems of charged nanoparticles (NPs) is one of the most difficult theoretical problems. In particular, the limiting case of negligible or very low polar media (e.g. salt) concentration, where the long-range NP interactions cannot be reduced to commonly used effective short-range (Yukawa) potentials, remains unstudied. Moreover, the present study has demonstrated that unlike the Debye–Huckel theory, a complete screening of the charges in SA kinetics (dynamic SA) is not always possible. Generally speaking, one has to take into account implicitly how each NP interacts with all other NPs (the true long-range interactions). Traditional theoreti…
Void superlattice formation in electron irradiated CaF2: Theoretical analysis
Abstract CaF2 is widely adopted as deep-UV window material and thin film optical coating. The void superlattice was observed experimentally under electron irradiation at room temperature. We performed kinetic Monte Carlo (kMC) simulations of the initial stages of the process when short- and intermediate-range order of defects in small Ca colloids and larger interstitial aggregates (F2 gas voids) is created. The kMC model includes fluorine interstitial–vacancy pair creation, defect diffusion, similar defect attraction and dissimilar defect recombination. Special attention is paid to the statistical analysis of the defect aggregate distribution functions under different conditions (dose rate,…
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…
BaCoO3 monoclinic structure and chemical bonding analysis: hybrid DFT calculations
Cobalt based perovskites have great potential for numerous applications. Contrary to a generally assumed hexagonal space group (SG P63/mmc) model as the ground state of BaCoO3 (BCO), our hybrid DFT calculations with B1WC density functional and the symmetry group–subgroup derived crystal structure model support the ground state of BCO to be indeed monoclinic, in agreement with recent experimental predictions [Chin et al., Phys. Rev. B, 2019, 100, 205139]. We found for the monoclinic BCO that the C-type anti-ferromagnetic low-spin (AFM LS) state (SG P2/c) is energetically only slightly more preferential at 0 K than the ferromagnetic (FM) LS state (SG C2/c). In turn, these monoclinic structure…