Suchergebnisse

Ab initio simulations of a multi-component alloy using density functional theory (DFT) were combined with experiments on thin films of the same material using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) to study the connection between the electronic and atomic structures of multi-component alloys. The DFT simulations were performed on an equimolar HfNbTiVZr multi-component alloy. Structure and charge transfer were evaluated using relaxed, non-relaxed, as well as elemental reference structures. The use of a fixed sphere size model allowed quantification of charge transfer, and separation into different contributions. The charge transfer was generally found to follow electronegativity trends and results in a reduced size mismatch between the elements, and thus causes a considerable reduction of the lattice distortions compared to a traditional assumption based on tabulated atomic radii. A calculation of the average deviation from the average radius (i.e. the so-called delta-parameter) based on the atomic Voronoi volumes gave a reduction of delta from ca. 6% (using the volumes in elemental reference phases) to ca. 2% (using the volumes in the relaxed multi-component alloy phase). The reliability of the theoretical results was confirmed by XPS measurements of a Hf22Nb19Ti18V19Zr21 thin film deposited by sputter deposition. The experimentally observed core level binding energy shifts (CLS), as well as peak broadening due to a range of chemical surroundings, for each element showed good agreement with the calculated DFT values. The single solid solution phase of the sample was confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) including energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) with nm-resolution. These observations show that the HfNbTiVZr solid solution phase is non-ideal, and that chemical bonding plays an important part in the structure formation, and presumably also in the properties. Our conclusions should be transferable to other multi-component alloy systems, as well as some other multi-component material systems, and open up interesting possibilities for the design of material properties via the electronic structure and controlled charge transfer between selected metallic elements in the materials. ; Funding Agencies|Swedish Research Council (VR)Swedish Research Council [2018-04834, 2019-05403, 2018-05973, 2019-05487]; Swedish Government Strategic Research Area in Materials Science on Functional Materials at Linkoping University; Faculty Grant SFO at LiU [2009 00971]; Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation (Wallenberg Scholar Grant) [KAW-2018.0194]; Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research through the Future Research Leaders 6 program [FFL 15-0290]; RFBRRussian Foundation for Basic Research (RFBR) [20-02-00178]; Swedish e-Science Research Centre (SeRC)

Lead-free halide double perovskites (A(2)B(I)B(III)X(6)) with attractive optical and electronic features are considered to be a promising candidate to overcome the toxicity and stability issues of lead halide perovskites (APbX(3)). However, their poor absorption profiles limit device performance. Here the absorption band edge of Cs(2)AgBiBr(6)double perovskite to the near-infrared range is significantly broadened by developing doped double perovskites, Cs-2(Ag:Cu)BiBr6. The partial replacement of Ag ions by Cu ions in the crystal lattice is confirmed by the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (ssNMR) measurements. Cu doping barely affects the bandgap of Cs2AgBiBr6; instead it introduces subbandgap states with strong absorption to the near-infrared range. More interestingly, the near-infrared absorption can generate band carriers upon excitation, as indicated by the photoconductivity measurement. This work sheds new light on the absorption modulation of halide double perovskites for future efficient optoelectronic devices. ; Funding Agencies|Knut and Alice Wallenberg FoundationKnut & Alice Wallenberg Foundation [KAW 2019.0082]; Swedish Energy AgencySwedish Energy Agency [2018-004357]; Grant Agency of the Czech RepublicGrant Agency of the Czech Republic [GA19-05259S]; VR Starting Grant [2019-05279]; Carl Tryggers Stiftelse; Olle Engkvist Byggmastare Stiftelse; Swedish Government Strategic Research Area in Materials Science on Functional Materials at Linkoping University (Faculty Grant SFO-Mat-LiU) [2009-00971]; China Scholarship Council (CSC)China Scholarship Council; Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation of NUST "MISIS" [K2-2019-001, 211]; Swedish Research Council (VR)Swedish Research Council [2019-05551]; Swedish Research CouncilSwedish Research Council [2016-07213]

Lead-free halide double perovskites with diverse electronic structures and optical responses, as well as superior material stability show great promise for a range of optoelectronic applications. However, their large bandgaps limit their applications in the visible light range such as solar cells. In this work, an efficient temperature-derived bandgap modulation, that is, an exotic fully reversible thermochromism in both single crystals and thin films of Cs2AgBiBr6 double perovskites is demonstrated. Along with the thermochromism, temperature-dependent changes in the bond lengths of Ag Symbol of the Klingon Empire Br (R-Ag Symbol of the Klingon Empire Br) and Bi Symbol of the Klingon Empire Br (R-Bi Symbol of the Klingon Empire Br) are observed. The first-principle molecular dynamics simulations reveal substantial anharmonic fluctuations of the R-Ag Symbol of the Klingon Empire Br and R-Bi Symbol of the Klingon Empire Br at high temperatures. The synergy of anharmonic fluctuations and associated electron-phonon coupling, and the peculiar spin-orbit coupling effect, is responsible for the thermochromism. In addition, the intrinsic bandgap of Cs2AgBiBr6 shows negligible changes after repeated heating/cooling cycles under ambient conditions, indicating excellent thermal and environmental stability. This work demonstrates a stable thermochromic lead-free double perovskite that has great potential in the applications of smart windows and temperature sensors. Moreover, the findings on the structure modulation-induced bandgap narrowing of Cs2AgBiBr6 provide new insights for the further development of optoelectronic devices based on the lead-free halide double perovskites. ; Funding Agencies|Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation; National Natural Science Foundation of China [61704078, 61722403]; Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province of China [BK20160990]; Swedish Government Strategic Research Area in Materials Science on Functional Materials at Linkoping University [200900971]; European Commission Marie Skodowska-Curie actions [691210]; European Commission SOLAR-ERA.NET; Swedish Energy Agency (Energimyndigheten); Swedish Research Council (FORMAS); China Scholarship Council; Recruitment Program of Global Youth Experts in China; National Key Research and Development Program of China [2016YFB0201204]; Program for JLU Science and Technology Innovative Research Team; Swedish Research Council (VR) [2014-4750]; Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation [074-02-2018-327]

A nitrogen-rich compound, ReN(8)xN(2), was synthesized by a direct reaction between rhenium and nitrogen at high pressure and high temperature in a laser-heated diamond anvil cell. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction revealed that the crystal structure, which is based on the ReN8 framework, has rectangular-shaped channels that accommodate nitrogen molecules. Thus, despite a very high synthesis pressure, exceeding 100GPa, ReN(8)xN(2) is an inclusion compound. The amount of trapped nitrogen (x) depends on the synthesis conditions. The polydiazenediyl chains [-N=N-] that constitute the framework have not been previously observed in any compound. Abinitio calculations on ReN(8)xN(2) provide strong support for the experimental results and conclusions. ; Funding Agencies|German Research Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, DFG) [DU 954-8/1, DU 954-11/1]; Federal Ministry of Education and Research, Germany (BMBF) [5K16WC1]; DFG [FOR2125, FOR 2440]; Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation [14.Y26.31.0005, K2-2017-080]; Swedish Research Council (VR) [2015-04391]; Swedish Government Strategic Research Area in Materials Science on Functional Materials at Linkoping University (Faculty Grant SFO-Mat-LiU) [2009-00971]; VINN Excellence Center Functional Nanoscale Materials (FunMat-2) Grant [2016-05156]

The structural and magnetic properties of siderite FeCO3 have been studied by means of neutron powder diffraction at pressures up to 7.5 GPa and first-principles theoretical calculations. The lattice compression in the rhombohedral calcite-type structure is dominated by the reduction of the Fe-O bonds, while the changes of the C-O bonds are much less pronounced. The Neel temperature of the antiferromagnetic ( AFM) ground state increases substantially under pressure with a coefficient dT(N)/dP = 1.8K/GPa, which is about 1.5 times larger in comparison with those predicted by the empirical Bloch rule. The ab initio calculations were performed in the framework of the density functional theory including Hubbard-U correction. The calculated structural parameters and Neel temperature as functions of pressure provide a reasonable agreement with the experimental results. The analysis of the density of electronic states points toward increased covalent bonding between the Fe and O atoms upon pressure, giving rise to unexpectedly large pressure coefficient of the Neel temperature and reduced ordered magnetic moments of Fe atoms. ; Funding Agencies|Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation [14.Y26.31.0005]; Swedish Research Council [2015-04391]; Swedish Government Strategic Research Area in Materials Science on Functional Materials at Linkping University [2009 00971]

Environmentally friendly halide double perovskites with improved stability are regarded as a promising alternative to lead halide perovskites. The benchmark double perovskite, Cs2AgBiBr6, shows attractive optical and electronic features, making it promising for high-efficiency optoelectronic devices. However, the large band gap limits its further applications, especially for photovoltaics. Herein, we develop a novel crystal-engineering strategy to significantly decrease the band gap by approximately 0.26 eV, reaching the smallest reported band gap of 1.72 eV for Cs(2)AgBiBr(6)under ambient conditions. The band-gap narrowing is confirmed by both absorption and photoluminescence measurements. Our first-principles calculations indicate that enhanced Ag-Bi disorder has a large impact on the band structure and decreases the band gap, providing a possible explanation of the observed band-gap narrowing effect. This work provides new insights for achieving lead-free double perovskites with suitable band gaps for optoelectronic applications. ; Funding Agencies|Knut and Alice Wallenberg FoundationKnut & Alice Wallenberg Foundation; Swedish Energy AgencySwedish Energy Agency [2018-004357]; VR Starting Grant [2019-05279]; Carl Tryggers Stiftelse; Olle Engkvist Byggmastare Stiftelse; Swedish Government Strategic Research Area in Materials Science on Functional Materials at Linkoping University (Faculty Grant SFO-Mat-LiU) [2009-00971]; Swedish Energy AgencySwedish Energy Agency; SSFSwedish Foundation for Strategic Research; China Scholarship Council (CSC)China Scholarship Council; Ministry of Science and High Education of the Russian Federation [075-15-2019-872 (14.Y26.31.0027/074-02-2018-327)]; Swedish Research Council (VR)Swedish Research Council [2019-05551]; Swedish Research CouncilSwedish Research Council [2016-07213]

Modelling of processes involving deep Earth liquids requires information on their structures and compression mechanisms. However, knowledge of the local structures of silicates and silica (SiO2) melts at deep mantle conditions and of their densification mechanisms is still limited. Here we report the synthesis and characterization of metastable high-pressure silica phases, coesite-IV and coesite-V, using in situ single-crystal X-ray diffraction and ab initio simulations. Their crystal structures are drastically different from any previously considered models, but explain well features of pair-distribution functions of highly densified silica glass and molten basalt at high pressure. Built of four, five-, and six-coordinated silicon, coesite-IV and coesite-V contain SiO6 octahedra, which, at odds with 3rd Paulings rule, are connected through common faces. Our results suggest that possible silicate liquids in Earths lower mantle may have complex structures making them more compressible than previously supposed. ; Funding Agencies|German Research Foundation [Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG)]; Federal Ministry of Education and Research [ Bundesministerium fur Bildung und Forschung (BMBF), Germany] [DU 954-11/1, DU 393-9/2, DU 393-10/1, 5K16WC1]; National Science Foundation-Earth Sciences [EAR-1634415]; Department of Energy-GeoSciences [DE-FG02-94ER14466]; DOE Office of Science by Argonne National Laboratory [DE-AC02-06CH11357]; Elite Network of Bavaria through the program Oxides; Swedish Research Council [2015-04391, 2014-4750, 637-2013-7296]; Swedish Government Strategic Research Areas in Materials Science on Functional Materials at Linkoping University (Faculty Grant SFO-Mat-LiU) [200900971]; Swedish e-Science Research Centre (SeRC); Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation [14.Y26.31.0005]; Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation in the framework of Increase Competitiveness Program of NUST "MISIS" [K2-2017-080]

Poly-nitrogen compounds have been considered as potential high energy density materials for a long time due to the large number of energetic N-N or N=N bonds. In most cases high nitrogen content and stability at ambient conditions are mutually exclusive, thereby making the synthesis of such materials challenging. One way to stabilize such compounds is the application of high pressure. Here, through a direct reaction between Fe and N-2 in a laser-heated diamond anvil cell, we synthesize three ironnitrogen compounds Fe3N2, FeN2 and FeN4. Their crystal structures are revealed by single-crystal synchrotron X-ray diffraction. Fe3N2, synthesized at 50 GPa, is isostructural to chromium carbide Cr3C2. FeN2 has a marcasite structure type and features covalently bonded dinitrogen units in its crystal structure. FeN4, synthesized at 106 GPa, features polymeric nitrogen chains of [N-4(2-)](n) units. Based on results of structural studies and theoretical analysis, [N-4(2-)](n) units in this compound reveal catena-poly[tetraz-1-ene-1,4-diyl] anions. ; Funding Agencies|National Science Foundation-Earth Sciences [EAR-1634415]; Department of Energy-GeoSciences [DE-FG02-94ER14466]; DOE Office of Science [DE-AC02-06CH11357]; Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) [DU 954-11/1, DU 393-10/1]; Federal Ministry of Education and Research, Germany (BMBF) [5K16WC1]; Swedish Research Council [2015-04391]; VINN Excellence Center Functional Nanoscale Materials (FunMat-2) [2016-05156]; Swedish Government Strategic Research Areas in Materials Science on Functional Materials at Linkoping University [2009-00971]; Swedish e-Science Research Centre (SeRC); Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation [14.Y26.31.0005, K2-2017-080]; RFBR [16-02-00797]

Defect-based quantum systems in wide bandgap semiconductors are strong candidates for scalable quantum-information technologies. However, these systems are often complicated by charge-state instabilities and interference by phonons, which can diminish spin-initialization fidelities and limit room-temperature operation. Here, we identify a pathway around these drawbacks by showing that an engineered quantum well can stabilize the charge state of a qubit. Using density-functional theory and experimental synchrotron X-ray diffraction studies, we construct a model for previously unattributed point defect centers in silicon carbide as a near-stacking fault axial divacancy and show how this model explains these defects robustness against photoionization and room temperature stability. These results provide a materials-based solution to the optical instability of color centers in semiconductors, paving the way for the development of robust single-photon sources and spin qubits. ; Funding Agencies|MTA Premium Postdoctoral Research Program; Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation through WBSQD2 project [2018.0071]; Swedish Government Strategic Research Areas in Materials Science on Functional Materials at Linkoping University (Faculty Grant SFO-Mat-LiU) [2009-00971]; Swedish e-Science Centre (SeRC); Swedish Research CouncilSwedish Research Council [VR 2016-04068]; Carl-Trygger Stiftelse for Vetenskaplig Forskning [CTS 15:339]; Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian FederationMinistry of Education and Science, Russian Federation [K2-2019-001, 211]; Hungarian NKFIH grants of the National Excellence Program of Quantumcoherent materials project [KKP129866]; EU QuantERA Nanospin project [127902]; EU H2020 Quantum Technology Flagship project ASTERIQS [820394]; NVKP project [NVKP_16-1-2016-0043]; National Quantum Technology Program [2017-1.2.1-NKP-2017-00001]; U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Basic Energy Sciences, Materials Science and Engineering DivisionUnited States Department of Energy (DOE); DOE Office of ScienceUnited States Department of Energy (DOE) [DE-AC02-06CH11357]; Center for Nanoscale Materials, a U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science User FacilityUnited States Department of Energy (DOE) [DE-AC02-06CH11357]; DOE, Office of Basic Energy SciencesUnited States Department of Energy (DOE)

Polynitrides are intrinsically thermodynamically unstable at ambient conditions and require peculiar synthetic approaches. Now, a one-step synthesis of metal-inorganic frameworks Hf4N20 center dot N2, WN 8 center dot N2, and Os5N28 center dot 3N2 via direct reactions between elements in a diamond anvil cell at pressures exceeding 100 GPa is reported. The porous frameworks (Hf4N20, WN 8, and Os5N28) are built from transition-metal atoms linked either by polymeric polydiazenediyl (polyacetylene-like) nitrogen chains or through dinitrogen units. Triply bound dinitrogen molecules occupy channels of these frameworks. Owing to conjugated polydiazenediyl chains, these compounds exhibit metallic properties. The high-pressure reaction between Hf and N2 also leads to a non-centrosymmetric polynitride Hf2N11 that features double-helix catenapoly[tetraz-1-ene-1,4-diyl] nitrogen chains [-N-N-N=N-](infinity.) ; Funding Agencies|National Science Foundation-Earth SciencesNational Science Foundation (NSF) [EAR-1634415]; Department of Energy-GeoSciencesUnited States Department of Energy (DOE) [DE-FG02-94ER14466]; Army Research Office; Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG)German Research Foundation (DFG) [DU 95411/1, DU 393-9/2, DU 393-13/1]; Federal Ministry of Education and Research, Germany (BMBF)Federal Ministry of Education & Research (BMBF) [05K19WC1]; Russian Science FoundationRussian Science Foundation (RSF) [18-12-00492]; Swedish Government Strategic Research Area in Materials Science on Functional Materials at Linkcping University (Faculty Grant SFO-Mat-LiU) [2009 00971]; Knut and AliceWallenberg FoundationKnut & Alice Wallenberg Foundation [KAW-2018.0194]; Swedish Research Council (VR)Swedish Research Council [2019-05600]; VINN Excellence Center Functional Nanoscale Materials (FunMat-2) [2016-05156]; [W911NF-19-2-0172]

Theoretical modelling predicts very unusual structures and properties of materials at extreme pressure and temperature conditions(1,2). Hitherto, their synthesis and investigation above 200 gigapascals have been hindered both by the technical complexity of ultrahigh-pressure experiments and by the absence of relevant in situ methods of materials analysis. Here we report on a methodology developed to enable experiments at static compression in the terapascal regime with laser heating. We apply this method to realize pressures of about 600 and 900 gigapascals in a laser-heated double-stage diamond anvil cell(3), producing a rhenium-nitrogen alloy and achieving the synthesis of rhenium nitride Re7N3-which, as our theoretical analysis shows, is only stable under extreme compression. Full chemical and structural characterization of the materials, realized using synchrotron single-crystal X-ray diffraction on microcrystals in situ, demonstrates the capabilities of the methodology to extend high-pressure crystallography to the terapascal regime. ; Funding Agencies: Alexander von Humboldt Foundation; Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) [LA-4916/1-1, BY112/2-1, DU 954-11/1, DU 393-9/2, DU 393-13/2]; Federal Ministry of Education and Research, Germany (BMBF) [05K19WC1]; Swedish Government Strategic Research Area in Materials Science on Functional Materials at Linköping University (Faculty Grant SFO-Mat-LiU) [200900971]; National Science Foundation -Earth Sciences [EAR -1634415]; DOE Office of Science [DE-AC02-06CH11357]; Russian Science Foundation [18-12-00492]; Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation (Wallenberg Scholar grant) [KAW-2018.0194]; Swedish Government Strategic Research Areas in Materials Science on Functional Materials at Linkoping University (Faculty Grant SFO-Mat-LiU) [2009 00971]; Swedish e-science Research Center (SeRC); Swedish Research Council (VR) [2019-05600]; Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research (SSF) [EM160004]; Swedish Research Council [2016-07213]; VINN Excellence Center Functional Nanoscale ...

High-pressure synthesis in diamond anvil cells can yield unique compounds with advanced properties, but often they are either unrecoverable at ambient conditions or produced in quantity insufficient for properties characterization. Here we report the synthesis of metallic, ultraincompressible (K-0 = 428(10) GPa), and very hard (nanoindentation hardness 36.7(8) GPa) rhenium nitride pernitride Re-2(N-2)(N)(2). Unlike known transition metals pernitrides Re-2(N-2)(N)(2) contains both pernitride N-2(4-) and discrete N3- anions, which explains its exceptional properties. Re-2(N-2)(N)(2) can be obtained via a reaction between rhenium and nitrogen in a diamond anvil cell at pressures from 40 to 90 GPa and is recoverable at ambient conditions. We develop a route to scale up its synthesis through a reaction between rhenium and ammonium azide, NH4N3, in a large-volume press at 33 GPa. Although metallic bonding is typically seen incompatible with intrinsic hardness, Re-2(N-2)(N)(2) turned to be at a threshold for superhard materials. ; Funding Agencies|Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) [ME 4368/7-1]; Federal Ministry of Education and Research, Germany (BMBF) [5K16WC1]; Fonds der Chemischen Industrie (FCI), Germany; National Science Foundation-Earth Sciences [EAR-1634415]; Department of EnergyGeoSciences [DE-FG02-94ER14466]; DOE Office of Science by Argonne National Laboratory [DE-AC02-06CH11357]; Russian Science Foundation [18-12-00492]; Ministry of Science and High Education of the Russian Federation in the framework of Increase Competitiveness Program of NUST "MISIS" [K2-2019-001, 211]; Swedish Research Council (VR) [2015-04391]; Swedish Government Strategic Research Area in Materials Science on Functional Materials at Linkcping University [2009-00971]; VINN Excellence Center Functional Nanoscale Materials [FunMat-2, 2016-05156]; European Research Council (ERC) [787527]