Search results for "Van der Waals"

Electromechanics of graphene spirals

2014

Among the most fascinating nanostructure morphologies are spirals, hybrids of somewhat obscure topology and dimensionality with technologically attractive properties. Here, we investigate mechanical and electromechanical properties of graphene spirals upon elongation by using density-functional tight-binding, continuum elasticity theory, and classical force field molecular dynamics. It turns out that electronic properties are governed by interlayer interactions as opposed to strain effects. The structural behavior is governed by van der Waals interaction: in its absence spirals unfold with equidistant layer spacings, ripple formation at spiral perimeter, and steadily increasing axial force;…

MP2 Study of Physisorption of Molecular Hydrogen onto Defective Nanotubes: Cooperative Effect in Stone–Wales Defects

2016

We use large-scale MP2 calculations to investigate the physisorption of molecular hydrogen on (9,0) defective carbon nanotubes (CNTs) of C72H18. These large (supra)molecular systems are typically studied using conventional DFT methods, which do not describe well the van der Waals interactions responsible for this process. Here we use CCSD(T)-calibrated MP2 calculations to estimate binding energies by considering four defective structures (hydrogenated divacancy, octagon-pentagon, and two Stone-Wales defects). The largest physisorption energies for the nondefective CNT are for configurations in which H2 points toward the center of one ring. The computed interaction energies for defect-free C…

Systematic T1 improvement for hyperpolarized 129xenon

2015

The spin-lattice relaxation time T1 of hyperpolarized (HP)-(129)Xe was improved at typical storage conditions (i.e. low and homogeneous magnetic fields). Very long wall relaxation times T(1)(wall) of about 18 h were observed in uncoated, spherical GE180 glass cells of ∅=10 cm which were free of rubidium and not permanently sealed but attached to a standard glass stopcock. An "aging" process of the wall relaxation was identified by repeating measurements on the same cell. This effect could be easily removed by repeating the initial cleaning procedure. In this way, a constant wall relaxation was ensured. The Xe nuclear spin-relaxation rate 1/T1(Xe-Xe) due to van der Waals molecules was invest…

Tuning the electronic properties and the planarity degree in the π-extended TTF series: the prominent role of heteroatoms

2018

The main asset of small molecules for application in organic electronics lies in the tunability of their electronic properties owing to the precise control of their molecular design. Semiconducting properties in organic compounds are for instance closely linked to the molecular planarity degree, including when considering various redox states. Among those species, the π-extended TTF (exTTF: 9,10-bis(1,3-dithiol-2-ylidene)-9,10-dihydroanthracene) presents fascinating redox and structural properties, which have been extensively studied in various fields of organic electronics. Here we show that S-exTTF, a sulfur enriched π-isoelectronic dithieno analogue of pristine exTTF, synthesized through…

2021

FTIR spectroscopy was combined with the matrix isolation technique and quantum chemical calculations with the aim of studying complexes of isocyanic acid with sulfur dioxide. The structures of the HNCO⋯SO2 complexes of 1:1, 1:2 and 2:1 stoichiometry were optimized at the MP2, B3LYPD3, B2PLYPD3 levels of theory with the 6-311++G(3df,3pd) basis set. Five stable 1:1 HNCO⋯SO2 complexes were found. Three of them contain a weak N-H⋯O hydrogen bond, whereas two other structures are stabilized by van der Waals interactions. The analysis of the HNCO/SO2/Ar spectra after deposition indicates that mostly the 1:1 hydrogen-bonded complexes are present in argon matrices, with a small amount of the van de…

Characterization and Decomposition of the Natural van der Waals SnSb2Te4 under Compression

2020

[EN] High pressure X-ray diffraction, Raman scattering, and electrical measurements, together with theoretical calculations, which include the analysis of the topological electron density and electronic localization function, evidence the presence of an isostructural phase transition around 2 GPa, a Fermi resonance around 3.5 GPa, and a pressure-induced decomposition of SnSb2Te4 into the high-pressure phases of its parent binary compounds (alpha-Sb2Te3 and SnTe) above 7 GPa. The internal polyhedral compressibility, the behavior of the Raman-active modes, the electrical behavior, and the nature of its different bonds under compression have been discussed and compared with their parent binary…

Study of charge density waves in suspended 2H-TaS 2 and 2H-TaSe 2 by nanomechanical resonance

2021

The charge density wave (CDW) state in van der Waals systems shows interesting scaling phenomena as the number of layers can significantly affect the CDW transition temperature, $T_{CDW}$. However, it is often difficult to use conventional methods to study the phase transition in these systems due to their small size and sensitivity to degradation. Degradation is an important parameter which has been shown to greatly influence the superconductivity in layered systems. Since the CDW state competes with the onset of superconductivity, it is expected that $T_{CDW}$ will also be affected by the degradation. Here, we probe the CDW phase transition by the mechanical resonances of suspended 2H-TaS…

Magnetic and electronic phase transitions probed by nanomechanical resonators

2020

The reduced dimensionality of two-dimensional (2D) materials results in characteristic types of magnetically and electronically ordered phases. However, only few methods are available to study this order, in particular in ultrathin insulating antiferromagnets that couple weakly to magnetic and electronic probes. Here, we demonstrate that phase transitions in thin membranes of 2D antiferromagnetic FePS3, MnPS3 and NiPS3 can be probed mechanically via the temperature-dependent resonance frequency and quality factor. The observed relation between mechanical motion and antiferromagnetic order is shown to be mediated by the specific heat and reveals a strong dependence of the Néel temperature of…

Double-well thermodynamic potentials and spinodal curves: how real are they?

2007

The concept of double-well thermodynamic potentials, ubiquitous since the van der Waals description of the vapour-to-liquid transition and the Landau theory of phase transitions, is critically re-examined. Particular emphasis is put on the extent to which spinodal curves (separating ‘metastable’ from ‘unstable’ states) are meaningful. It is argued that in full thermodynamic equilibrium spinodals are well-defined when one either considers finite subsystems of an infinitely large system, or systems with all linear dimensions finite. Evidence is given that in a finite (cubic) d-dimensional box the spinodals correspond (in a fluid) to the rounded ‘droplet evaporation’ or ‘bubble condensation’ t…

Impact of kinetics on the growth of GaN on graphene by plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy.

2019

International audience; The growth of GaN on graphene by molecular beam epitaxy was investigated. The most stable epitaxial relationship, i.e. [00.1]-oriented grains, is obtained at high temperature and N-rich conditions, which match those for nanowire growth. Alternatively, at moderate temperature and Ga-rich conditions, several metastable orientations are observed at the nucleation stage, which evolve preferentially towards [00.1]-oriented grains. The dependence of the nucleation regime on growth conditions was assigned to Ga adatom kinetics. This statement is consistent with the calculated graphene/GaN in-plane lattice coincidence and supported by a combination of transmission electron m…